In a bid to make the ride smoother and more comfortable for commuters, it is proposed to augment MMTS fleet by more than 50 per cent, install electronic audio-visual displays at stations and on trains and increase the automatic ticket vending machines.
Even as the South Central Railway(SCR) awaits sanctioning of the Rs.641-crore for MMTS phase-II, the focus would be on all-round improvement in the passenger amenities of the suburban services.
Disclosing this to The Hindu here on Friday, SCR General Manager M.S. Jayanth said the existing 60 coaches under MMTS first phase would be augmented by 36 coaches. With the State government responding positively to pay its remaining share of Rs.27 crore, the Integral Coach Factory was expected to deliver the required number of six rakes within six months of depositing the money. The cost for MMTS first phase is shared equally by the State and SCR.
Smart card
With the MMTS trains currently carrying one lakh passengers daily, the number was expected to touch 1.5 lakh after the addition of new coaches. Apart from expanding the capacity of the existing trains, new services would be started after the coaches were delivered.
He said the amenities would be upgraded like “never before” by providing ‘spot your train' facility through audio-visual display. In addition to automatic ticket vending machines functioning in six of the 23 stations, another 75 had been sanctioned. A unique aspect of the smart card was that it was valid in the entire zone
In the first stage of phase-II, laying of a new line from Umdanagar to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and doubling from Falaknuma-Umdanagar would be taken up. Other works include restoration and electrification of Telapur-Patancheru, Secunderabad-Moula-Ali sections and doubling and electrification of Sanathnagar-Moula-Ali sections. The second stage works include doubling and electrification of Moula-Ali-Malkajgiri-Sithaphalmandi, Bolarum-Medchal sections and quadrupling and electrification Moula-Alui-Ghatkesar sections. With the extension of MMTS reach in the second phase, it was expected that the three lakh passengers would be using the services daily. As part of improving passenger amenities, multi-level car parking areas, cafeteria and lifts would be provided.
