Hyderabad
oi-Ashish Rana
The Telangana government’s proposal to offer free travel on Hyderabad’s Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) trains remains under active consideration, but reports claiming the scheme will be launched on June 2 have been officially dismissed as incorrect. Both the state government and the South Central Railway (SCR) have clarified that no final decision has been taken yet, even as discussions continue over the plan that could significantly reshape daily commuting in the city.
Reports of free travel on Hyderabad’s MMTS trains launching June 2 are inaccurate, as the Telangana government and South Central Railway are still actively considering the proposal, with final approval pending the Railway Board’s decision.
Official clarification says June 2 launch reports are inaccurate
The clarification came after reports suggested that free MMTS travel for both women and men in Hyderabad would begin on June 2, coinciding with Telangana Formation Day. Those reports had also claimed that the state government was ready to absorb an estimated annual revenue loss of around ₹10 crore to implement the move.
However, the Telangana government and SCR have now rejected those claims. FactCheck_Telangana, through its official X account, labelled the earlier reports as “misleading and inaccurate” and said the proposal is still being examined.
“The Telangana Government and the South Central Railway are actively considering the proposal of the Telangana State to provide free travel to passengers in the city on MMTS services,” read its X post.
Sources also told Siasat.com that the proposal is indeed under consideration, but no approval has yet been granted.
Railways have asked for draft MoU, Railway Board to take final call
Earlier reports had stated that the South Central Railway had responded positively to the state’s proposal and sought a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) from the Telangana government before moving ahead.
Under that process, the draft agreement would be submitted for scrutiny, after which the Railway Board would take the final decision on whether the scheme can be approved.
This means the proposal has advanced to the discussion stage, but the final go-ahead is still pending. Until the Railway Board clears it, the free travel initiative cannot be formally announced or implemented.
Scheme aims to revive MMTS ridership in Hyderabad
If approved, the proposed scheme could become a major push for public transport in Hyderabad, especially at a time when MMTS services are yet to fully recover from the sharp fall in passenger numbers after the COVID-19 pandemic.
At present, MMTS services are carrying around 38,000 to 42,000 passengers daily, a steep drop from the over 1.2 lakh daily passengers recorded before the pandemic.
The number of operational train services has also reduced. Currently, only 80 to 88 MMTS services are running, compared to 121 services earlier.
Officials believe that making travel free could help improve urban mobility, attract more commuters back to suburban rail, and ease pressure on Hyderabad’s roads and other public transport systems.
No official approval yet, more details awaited
While the idea of free MMTS travel has generated interest among commuters, the official position remains that the plan is still under review. The state government and SCR have made it clear that there is no confirmed launch date yet, and claims of a June 2 rollout are premature.
For now, the proposal remains on the table, with more details expected once discussions between the Telangana government, SCR and the Railway Board move forward.
If cleared, the scheme could mark a significant step in Hyderabad’s public transport strategy, but as of now, authorities say the announcement of a confirmed start date is still awaited.
