Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd MD holds meeting with IT companies

Hyderabad: Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd (HMRL) Managing Director NVS Reddy held a meeting with the representatives of major IT/ITES companies and developers of IT campuses at Metro Rail Bhavan on Tuesday on first and last mile connectivity at the Metro stations in the wake of commencement of Metro train services on Ameerpet-Hitec City stretch of Metro Rail corridor-III.

Addressing a gathering of about 40 representatives, the MD explained to them the advantages of Metro travel in terms of fuel saving, reduction in pollution levels, saving in commute time, stress free travel to work and better work and family environment for the employees, etc. The Metro fare structure, parking facilities at Metro stations, the existing feeder services and those in the offing etc., were also explained. He further informed them that the ridership has gone up from 1.80 lakh per day to 2.21 lakh yesterday (Monday) and that it will further go up once the first and last mile connectivity is established.

Responding to the suggestion made by the representatives of IT companies and large IT campuses, NVS Reddy advised them to convert their current long distance feeder buses and other pick up services from places beyond LB Nagar, Uppal, Miyapur etc., into short shuttle services between Metro stations like Hitec City and Durgamcheruvu to the IT campuses within a range of about 4 or 5 km and similarly between stations like LB Nagar, Dilsukhnagar, Nagole, Uppal and Miyapur to the nearby colonies, so that the main journey can be done by the comfortable and pollution free Metro train services. He assured them that HMRL would facilitate the necessary permissions and provide the required parking places for the feeder service vehicles at the Metro stations.

Indicating the availability of parking places at Durgamcheruvu, Hitec City (cellar of Hitec Mall) and Madhapur stations to begin with, NVS Reddy and L&TMRHL MD KVB Reddy requested them to similarly earmark some parking places on their respective campuses for parking the feeder service vehicles. Some of the companies like Novartis and KonyLabs stated that they would start short distance feeder services from Hitec City and Durgamcheruvu stations to their campuses in a few days. The other companies have also appreciated the proposal and stated that they would follow suit at an early date.

When most of the IT company representatives requested for introduction of monthly passes and "station to station trip" passes, L&TMRHL MD Mr.KVB Reddy promised that they would be introduced soon. On the issue of easing queues at Hitec City and other busy Metro stations, L&TMRHL Chief Operating Officer Anil Saini suggested to the IT companies to opt for bulk purchase of Metro Rail smart cards and indicated that those who are interested may contact Rishi Verma of L&TMRHL on 994915833.

Apart from the above, the following decisions were taken in the meeting: L&TMRHL will place Metro network map and train timings at IT campuses and other prominent locations; Police will be requested to extend/facilitate Cyber shuttle and SHE shuttle services to Hitec city and Durgamcheruvu Metro stations; Metro information availability through T-Savari and Metro call centers will be made popular among IT employees by IT company managements and M. Satyanarayana of Facilities Management Council would coordinate between the IT companies and HMRL/L&TMRHL to have continuous interaction and facilitate more and more IT employees switch over to Metro travel to ease congestion and reduce pollution levels in the city.