1 day ago
Passengers Demand Restoration of Discontinued Trains and MMTS Services
Many people want trains that stopped during the Covid lockdown to run again.
South Central Railway says many services have returned, but passengers say some are still missing.
One example is the passenger train between Dornakal and Bhadrachalam Road.
MMTS trains in the Hyderabad area have also decreased from about 121 services to 88.
Railway officials say services have been restored gradually.
A passengers’ activist says some trains have fewer stops and higher fares because they run as special services.
A local resident says fewer MMTS trains have made people rely on other transport.
Passengers want regular trains and more MMTS services.
Train travellers are calling for passenger trains discontinued during the Covid lockdown to return.
South Central Railway operated an average of 534 passenger trains daily before the pandemic.
The Dornakal–Bhadrachalam Road–Dornakal passenger service, numbered 57145/57146, has not resumed, according to passengers.
MMTS services have fallen from about 121 before the lockdown to 88 currently, including 11 pairs introduced until the end of March 2026.
Passengers say limited stoppages and higher fares on special trains, along with reduced MMTS frequency, have made travel less convenient.
- Who
- Train travellers, South Central Railway, and MMTS users.
- What
- Passengers are demanding the return of discontinued passenger trains and full MMTS services.
- Where
- South Central Railway’s zone, including Hyderabad-area MMTS routes and the Dornakal–Bhadrachalam Road route.
- When
- The cuts began during the Covid lockdown; the article says the demand continues more than six years later.
- Why
- Passengers say some services remain unavailable, MMTS frequency is reduced, and special trains can have fewer stops and higher fares.
Passengers’ concerns
Railway authorities’ position
Restoration of services
Passengers’ concerns
Passengers want the Dornakal–Bhadrachalam Road passenger train and full MMTS services restored.
Railway authorities’ position
South Central Railway says most trains have been brought back into service and that restoration has proceeded gradually.
Special trains and travel conditions
Passengers’ concerns
A passengers’ activist says special services have restricted stoppages and higher fares than the former regular passenger trains.
Railway authorities’ position
The article reports the railway’s explanation that passenger services have been gradually restored, but does not provide a specific response to the complaints about fares or stoppages.
Key facts
- Pre-pandemic passenger services
- South Central Railway operated an average of 534 passenger trains per day.
- Pre-lockdown MMTS services
- About 121 services.
- Current MMTS services
- 88 services, according to the article.
- Dornakal–Bhadrachalam Road service
- Passenger train numbers 57145/57146 have yet to resume, according to citizens.
- MMTS additions
- Eleven pairs between Secunderabad–Medchal and Ghatkesar–Lingampalli were introduced until the end of March 2026.
- Railway restoration timeline
- Indian Railways began gradually restoring passenger services on May 12, 2020, initially with 15 pairs across its network.
Quotes
Satyanarayana
Malkajgiri resident
“Several trains have been reintroduced, but stoppages are restricted, turning them into fast‑moving services. In addition, fares for these special trains are higher compared to the regular passenger trains that operated earlier.”
deccanchronicle.com
“The MMTS services were more convenient for several people when the services were more. The reduction of services has forced us to depend on other alternative public transport.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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