Hyderabad Metro Plans 10 New Train Sets, Six Coach Services on All Corridors to Tackle Peak Hour Rush

The Hyderabad Metro Rail network is set for a capacity boost as plans move forward to add 10 new train sets, comprising 60 coaches, to manage growing commuter pressure across key corridors.

Proposals for the expansion have been submitted to the Telangana government, with officials expecting tenders to be issued soon after formal approval.

Government clearance awaited for tenders

Hyderabad Metro Rail authorities have sent a detailed proposal to the state government seeking permission to procure additional rolling stock. Officials said tenders would be floated immediately once the approval process is completed, allowing procurement to begin without further delay.

Shift to six-coach trains on busy routes

At present, Metro services operate using three-coach trains. With the induction of new rolling stock, all corridors will gradually transition to six-coach operations, a provision that was built into the station platform design from the start.

The upgrade is planned for the LB Nagar to Miyapur, Jubilee Bus Station to Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station, and Nagole to Raidurg corridors. These routes together handle nearly 1,200 trips every day and cater to around 4.60 to 4.80 lakh passengers. Ridership often exceeds five lakh on holidays and festival days.

Long delay worsened peak-hour crowding

The move comes after a wait of nearly four years. Metro operators had earlier announced plans to add coaches to tackle congestion during peak hours. In November 2024, the managing director had indicated that four to seven new three-coach trains would be added within a year, or that at least 40 to 70 coaches would be inducted.

However, the plan did not materialise, resulting in heavy crowding during peak travel periods between 8 am and 11 am, and again from 5 pm to 9.30 pm, when passengers often struggle to board trains.

Talks with manufacturers and funding plans

Currently, 57 Metro trains with 171 coaches are in service across the three corridors. Officials have initiated discussions with manufacturers including Bharat Earth Movers Limited and the Integral Coach Factory for supplying new six-coach train sets. Each train set is estimated to cost between ₹65 crore and ₹70 crore, taking the total project cost to around ₹650 crore to ₹700 crore.

Parallel to the expansion plans, the state government is fast-tracking efforts to take over Metro operations from the existing concessionaire. This includes exploring options to refinance the operator's equity of ₹2,000 crore and outstanding loans of nearly ₹13,000 crore at lower interest rates, with possible assistance from the Centre and the World Bank.