HYDERABAD: South Central Railway (SCR) is planning to introduce 8 more MMTS services, by utilising available rakes. They are likely to also increase frequency of trains, when new MMTS rakes are received expectedly by March 2011.
Some additional services are being planned to run on Sundays on a trial basis. Train no LF 10 Lingampalli- Secunderabad service would be extended to Falaknuma, to offer connectivity to the Kacheguda-Chennai Egmore Express.
SCR general manager, MS Jayanth said they held a meeting with representatives of the MMTS Travelers’ Group on Thursday and discussed various issues concerning MMTS services in the city and measures to make the services more efficient and comfortable for commuters.
The general manager said the Railways has been advising the APSRTC to run feeder services to all MMTS stations.
He also stated trials had been conducted successfully for Mobile Satellite Service-based Train Tracking and Passenger Information system for MMTS trains and Auto-Generated Public Address System at all MMTS stations. The project estimated to cost about Rs 2 crore has been sanctioned and will be in place by end of the financial year.
Jayanth also informed that 6 MMTS stations of Lingampalli, Hitec City, Hafizpet, Borabanda, Bharatnagar and Uppuguda had been identified as very busy stations and additional ticket counters are being planned at these stations. An improved version of the Automated Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) were expected to be commissioned at all stations in the next three months. The work of extending cover over the platform at Hitec City station would be completed during the year 2011 at a cost of Rs 90 lakh and an amount of Rs 80 lakh was being spent to improve lighting at MMTS stations, according to the general manager. On the aspect of security, Jayanth said 214 Home Guards will be posted at all stations, thereby ensuring that in each shift 2 to 4 Home Guards are deployed at each station. Every MMTS train was being escorted by one RPF and two Home Guards. To curb irregular travel, regular ticket-checking drives are being conducted.
There are also plans for providing catering facilities at MMTS stations.
On the issue of parking facilities, he informed the tariff for parking vehicles was lower at MMTS stations, as compared to the vicinity. He said the parking facilities were being improved at Hitec City, Lingampalli, Hafizpet, Arts College and Jamai Osmania.
Construction of toilets would also be taken up at four MMTS stations, where there was no toilet facility available.
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