MMTS, Hyderabad

Infobox Public transit
name = Multi-Modal Transport System


imagesize = 200px
locale = Hyderabad, India.
transit_type = Commuter rail
began_operation = August 9, 2003
lines = 3
stations = 36
ridership =
system_length = km to mi|43
track_gauge = RailGauge|sg (broad gauge)
operator = South Central Railway

MMTS or Multi-Modal Transport System is a commuter rail system in Hyderabad, India. It was built on an equal expenditure basis by Government of Andhra Pradesh and the South Central Railway and is operated by the latter.

It started its operations on August 9, 2003. The first phase covers a distance of 43 km of Secunderabad - Hyderabad - Lingampally (28 km) and Secunderabad - Falaknuma (15 km) at a cost of Rs. 178 crore.

Fleet

It is, presently, running 84 services a day, covering 27 stations, connecting Secunderabad, Nampally, Falaknuma and Lingampally, over the existing railway network. Around 100,000 commuters use MMTS everyday. the Diesel Multiple Units (green local trains) compliment the MMTS (white-blue trains) along few other routes like Bolaram (upto Manoharabad), Umdanagar etc.

Information

There are First Class, General, and a separate Ladies compartment.

A combined pass is issued by APSRTC buses and MMTS. So buying a single pass will help in travelling by bus as well as the train.

This is a preferred public transport for people working in and around HITEC City, Madhapur, Kondapur, Manikonda & Gachibowli. All the major IT companies run shuttle service for their employees from and to HITEC City. Else taking a shared auto is other option available.

These routes are operational (including local trains) and the number of services in that particular route is mentioned below:

*First Class Fare is approximately 12 times of General Fare per single journey. Ex: Begumpet to Hi-Tech City or Vice Versa is Rs. 50 /-.

Contact Information

* General Information - 139
* Reservation Enquiries - 135
* English, Telugu & Hindi - 1345
* Interactive Voice Response (IVRS):
** English - 1331
** Telugu - 1332
** Hindi - 1333

Problems / Concerns

The MMTS is plagued by many issues.

Losses

Although the Railways continue to maintain that the first phase, started in 2003, is running in “losses” of about a one crore rupees a month since its inception, the reality is that the number of commuters has been rising very fast of about 10,000 each month. More than one lakh travel are using the 87 services being run every day.Railway officials admit that MMTS with more than a lakh commuters a day is sufficient to show operating profits and in any case, the Government had contested the railways methodology arriving at the loss ratio.

Cleanliness

The compartments are mostly clean since they consist of fairly new compartments. But their continued maintenance remains in doubt.

Security

Local police personnel are expected to guard the compartments in order to provide security to commuters at all hours. This issue has been taken more seriously since reports of anti-social elements as well as the various terrorist activities in Hyderabad.

The Second Phase

The second phase of MMTS is envisaged to cover.

* Falaknuma to Shamshabad Airport - 12 km
* Secunderabad to Bhongir
* Lingampally to Patancheru

Technical details

* ICF has manufactured Electric Multiple Units for the Hyderabad MMTS services. In a first ever endeavour of its kind, Railways and the State Government have agreed to equally share the cost of the rolling stock, as part of the cost sharing arrangement for the MMTS project.
* The challenge of coming up with a design meeting the expectations of new generation was taken up by ICF in dead earnest. Based on its own enriching Jan Shatabdi experience earlier during the year and discussions with the Hyderabad MMTS authorities, ICF has come up with a new design of EMU stock which fulfils the expectations of this rapidly growing twin-city.

* The coaches have been provided with an ergonomically designed drivers cab with all vital equipment being arranged to be within easy reach of the motorman on an aesthetically pleasing design of prefabricated FRP drivers desk.

* Some of the trains have automatic announcements of the stations.

ee also

* List of rapid transit systems
* Hyderabad Mass Rapid Transit System

External links

* [http://scrailway.gov.in/mmts/mmtstable.php TIMETABLE OF ALL LOCAL TRAINS OF HYDERABAD AND SECUNDERABAD]
* [http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=4328669#post4328669 The Great MMTS Photo Feature]
* [http://wikitravel.org/en/Hyderabad Hyderabad Travel Guide on Wikitravel]