Hyderabad Metro Plans Additional Coaches to Reduce Peak-Hour Crowding
Hyderabad, July 16: Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited has directed officials to begin discussions with train manufacturers for the procurement of additional coaches, as authorities work to address rising passenger demand and congestion across the city’s Phase I network.
The decision was discussed during a review meeting chaired by HMRL Additional Managing Director B. Ajith Reddy. Senior officials examined the functioning of the existing 69-kilometre metro system, with particular attention to passenger facilities, station operations, safety, cleanliness, parking and crowd control.
Officials have been asked to move quickly on consultations with rolling-stock manufacturers so that more coaches can be arranged at the earliest possible stage. The proposed capacity increase is aimed at making daily travel safer and more comfortable, particularly during busy morning and evening hours.
Crowding has become a major concern at high-footfall stations such as Ameerpet, Miyapur, Raidurg and Hitec City. These stations serve important residential, commercial and technology corridors and regularly experience heavy passenger movement during peak periods.
The latest review builds on HMRL’s earlier plan to procure 60 additional coaches through new six-coach train formations. That proposal was announced as a separate capacity-enhancement measure for the existing network and was not dependent on approvals for the Phase II expansion.
Hyderabad Metro trains currently operate in three-car formations. According to HMRL, each three-car train has a maximum capacity of nearly 965 passengers. The coaches include air conditioning, CCTV surveillance, fire and smoke detection systems, designated areas for women, elderly commuters and persons with disabilities, and wide internal gangways that help distribute passenger loads.
Apart from increasing train capacity, the authorities are also focusing on the journey beyond the station. Reddy instructed officials to expand existing last-mile transport options and coordinate with the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation and the Transport Department to improve connectivity between metro stations and nearby destinations.
HMRL has also been asked to prepare individual operational plans for stations based on their local requirements. These measures may first be introduced at selected locations on a pilot basis before being extended across the network.
The review included proposals to improve pedestrian movement, simplify access to platforms and reduce confusion around station entry and exit routes. Officials were further directed to maintain and expand skywalks linked to metro stations and work with railway authorities on better connections between metro stations and major railway terminals.
Parking facilities, passenger safety and station cleanliness were also among the issues examined. The Metro Rail Security Department presented details of existing security arrangements, while HMRL officials discussed ways to strengthen passenger protection across stations and trains.
The meeting also reviewed progress on the proposed Public Rapid Transit System for high-density employment areas. The suggested network is intended to improve movement across Hitec City, Raidurg, Gachibowli, the Financial District and Kondapur, where road congestion and commuter demand remain high.
The push for additional coaches comes after the Telangana government assumed full control of Hyderabad Metro’s Phase I operations in May 2026. The state-owned structure is expected to allow more coordinated planning for operations, passenger services and future expansion.
However, HMRL has not yet announced a confirmed procurement schedule, delivery date or the final number of coaches to be ordered under the latest direction. Manufacturing, testing and deployment of new rolling stock could require considerable time even after the procurement process begins.
For commuters, the move signals that authorities have formally recognised the pressure on the existing network. The eventual addition of more coaches, supported by better station management and last-mile transport, could help ease congestion and improve the overall experience for thousands of daily metro users.
