Hyderabad Metro Rail sponsorship reaches 2.20 lakh

Hyderabad: Metro Rail's general sponsorship after the start of services to Hitec City has increased from 1.80 lakh per day to 2.20 lakh plus.

Metro services on the Ameerpet-Hitec City route were launched on March 20 and on Monday, general sponsorship of services was recorded at 2.21 lakh. Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) officials expect the sponsorship to increase further once the first and last mile connectivity is established.

As a result, on Tuesday, HMRL convened a meeting with representatives of IT and ITES companies to discuss different aspects related to first and last mile connectivity at Metro stations.

Speaking at the meeting attended by 40 representatives, the Managing Director of HMRL, NVS Reddy, suggested them to convert their current long distance feeder buses that operate beyond LB Nagar, Uppal, Miyapur, etc., into short shuttle services between Metro stations like Hitec City and Durgam Cheruvu to the IT campuses that cover about four or five kilometres of radius.

Similarly, he said that services between stations such as LB Nagar, Dilsukhnagar, Nagole, Uppal and Miyapur could be operated to the nearby colonies. This will make it easier for employees to complete the trip comfortably in the Metro services and get home in the feeder services.

Reddy assured that the necessary permits and parking places will be provided for the feeder services in the stations for the companies.

By citing the availability of parking space at the stations of Durgam Cheruvu, Hitec City (Hitec Mall warehouse) and Madhapur, Metro officials wanted the companies to reserve a parking space on their respective campus for feeder services parking.

Responding positively, some of the companies, including Novartis and KonyLabs, said they would begin short distance shuttle services from the Hitec City and Durgam Cheruvu stations to their campuses in a few days. The other companies also appreciated the proposal and declared that they would follow it as soon as possible.

In the call for the introduction of monthly passes and 'station to station trip' passes, L&TMRHL MD KVB Reddy promised that they would be introduced soon.

With respect to queues at Hitec City and other concurrent Metro stations, L&TMRHL's Chief Operating Officer, Anil Saini, suggested that the IT companies should opt for the mass purchase of Metro Rail smart cards.