MMTS set to double carrying capacity

Hyderabad: There is a good news for Hyderabad Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) users. The trains that are presently running with nine rakes are being upgraded to 12 rakes, and in the process it is paving for doubling of the capacity.

At present, 1.5 lakh people use the services. Carrying capacity will increase to 5,150 (seating + standing) which is at present 2,700. In all eight rakes have been allotted out of which four have arrived from Integral Coach Factory, Chennai and the remaining are in transit. Each rake costs approximately Rs 8 crore.

Contrary to popular belief that the ridership would take a hit after the introduction of Metro Rail, in fact the number of passengers is growing, say railway officials. Ch Rakesh, Chief Public Relations Officer, South Central Railway says, "A lot of thought has gone into the design of the rakes. Keeping women's safety in mind, there would be CCTV in ladies coaches and grills on windows to tackle stone pelting."

It may be noted that recently, anti-social elements pelted stones on a train at Falaknuma. New car rakes have enhanced facilities to provide additional benefit to travelling passengers such as improvised exteriors in different colour patterns and the interiors are decked up with vinyl wrapping.

Platforms extended

In order to accommodate the 12 car coaches, extension as well as improvement of platforms is taken up at suburban stations such as Vidyanagar, Sitaphalmandi, Huppuguda, Yakutpura, Dabirpura and Malakpet is taken up and is successfully completed.

Sitaphalmandi is an important suburban station in Secunderabad area catering to daily commuters in the region. Platform extension work is taken up at both Platform 1 & 2 along with provisioning of pathway with the cost of Rs 86 lakhs to accommodate MMTS trains running with 12 coaches.

Dabirpura, Vidyanagar, Yakutpura and Uppuguda are important suburban stations in Hyderabad city nearer to Kacheguda station and cater to the public commuting from this region towards Secunderabad and Hitech City area.

At these four suburban stations, extension of both 1 & 2 platforms from 70 meters to 85 meters is taken up to accommodate MMTS trains running with 12 coaches at a cost of Rs 2.92 crore.

At another important suburban station, Malakpet, a road under bridge is extended by 6 meters to extend both platforms 1 & 2 by 110 meters to accommodate trains with 18 coaches. The total cost incurred is around Rs 2.4 crore. All the aforementioned platforms are provided with vaccum dewatered concrete surface with interfaced antiskid tiles.