MMTS – A look back at its eventful journey …

MMTS would step into its 9th year of operation on Tuesday Aug 9, 2011. A look back at its journey for these 8 eventful years …

What started as a first of its kind joint venture project between the Railways and the Government of Andhra Pradesh – Remember Railways has stopped taking up the Suburban system quite long ago – a 50:50 joint venture to fulfill the mass transport needs of the twin cities, this was touted as the unique system integrating the rail and road transport for the benefit of commuters.

With an initial investment of close to Rs 160 crores for the initial phase, this has been the cheapest Mass transport system providing the cost effective and fast transport service to commuters, with a per km capital cost of Rs 4 crores. But then the initial investment needed was only for the infrastructure like – development / upgradation of stations and procurement of rakes, as the lines already existed. It’s a different story that the cost of upgradation took 35% more than the estimated one. Also, the no. of rakes procured (10 rakes) was less than the planned numbers (20 rakes) for procurement to keep the overall cost of estimation same.
But what missed out from this planning is the establishment of dedicated lines for the MMTS services – as, only dedicated lines would solve the long term mass transport needs.

When the first service between Secunderabad and Lingampalli was flagged off by the then Home Minister Mr LK Advani in the presence of the then CM of AP Mr Chandrababu Naidu, everyone thought that this is going to be a boon to the twin cities. But the scenario was different. Some of the reasons that could be attributed to that condition –
• Failure to integrate the bus services with the Train services as planned and promised
• Failure to have proper approach roads to the stations
• Failure to commence the combined Train – Bus pass system

Eventually the feeder services named the “MMTS Link Bus” were introduced in March 2005, but RTC was subjected to severe criticism for running the feeder services empty. That showed the clear lack of coordination between the RTC and the railways. At a time when the frequency of train services was very less, one would expect to reach the station in time and catch the MMTS. Had the authorities done the basics right - display of bus timings @ stations, picking up and dropping the passengers at stations in tune with the timings of MMTS, these feeder services would have been a big hit. But it was not so and hence these services had to be withdrawn from operation just few months after its introduction.

This was the worst ever phase in the history of MMTS so far, with its passenger patronage started showing trends of decrease. This even led to withdrawal of certain services. Main stakeholders for MMTS, the Indian Railways and the State Government, had shown a marked disinclination to take any steps. All major recommendations to improve the services were not implemented.

Luckily the Railways did not scrap the system and instead went on an aggressive mode – They started awareness campaign in the old city areas about MMTS and started a dedicated email service to accept the suggestion on the improvement of services.

The next key initiative from the SCR, in early 2007, was the reduction in the running time of the services and modifying the train timings to suit the office goers. This helped a lot to boost the patronage of the MMTS. Within a year, in Dec 2007, the passenger patronage shot up by almost 100%. By this time the combined ticket system was also introduced enabling passengers to travel in both MMTS and the ordinary services of RTC.

From then on, it is an upward journey for MMTS …
• Introduction of LED display systems – the first of its kind in any suburban train system
• Introduction of Smart Card system
• Introduction of GPS to track the movement of trains and announce in the public address system
• Increase in the no. of services
• Introduction of Matribhoomi trains
• Augmentation of the existing rakes with 9 cars to carry more capacity …
The list goes on …
The good thing is the SCR has taken the views of the public into consideration in improving the system.

But then the real intent of forming this system – providing integrated transport – still has not been fulfilled yet.
In spite of all these obstacles, MMTS has come a long way since its inception. From 20,000 passengers a day to close to 1.4 lakhs passengers now, this system has obviously become the best mode of transport available in the twin cities. Had the TDP government been reelected in 2004, the story of MMTS would have been different now.

In spite of all these odds and disinclination from the State Govt, it is good to see the MMTS chugging on … carrying lakhs of passengers daily. Wishing the system many more eventful years of service !!!

Preserving the Planet for the future ... !!!

Our earth has been around for many years. It has undergone quite a few changes over these years. However, in the last 100 years human activity has led to some alarming changes to the planet we belong to – melting of ice in the north and south poles, development of industries and infrastructure by clearing forests, creation of more waste or trash which are non-bio degradable.

Human activities and their impact have led to the release of excess greenhouse gases, causing global warming. Increase in the no. of vehicles / automobiles, burning of oil and coal to generate electricity, smoke from the factories are some of the reasons for this alarming situation.

Deforestation is not only leading to an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases but also pushing us into a water crisis. Water is already a depleting resource in developing countries like India. India is a land where people have given up their lives to save trees. But the current state is completely different. It is with ease people cut down the trees without knowing the importance. Since the roots of the trees go deeper into the soil, soil erosion is prevented there by saving the topsoil form being washed away by rains. This topsoil is very important for the growth of crops as it contains more nutrients. Moreover this topsoil when washed away by rains, settles down in the river bed as silt. This reduces the amount of water that the river can hold causing flood. So, we need to ensure that trees are not felled unnecessarily.

Natural resources can be impacted to a point that they can no longer be repaired. Conservation of natural resources needs to be a priority for the business and governments, which tout sustainability as a way to strike a balance between helping the environment and preventing economic or personal hardship. The present communities should be supported without jeopardizing the environment for tomorrow. The impact on air, water and land by the human actions and behavior, can be controlled so that they do not cause much damage while allowing all involved maintaining a comfortable existence.

Vehicle emission
One of the important reasons for global warming is the increase in the emission from the growing number in automobiles. Though this has an impact on the economy, there has to be a balance between the economy and environment. We have to think about alternates like effective public transportation system instead of private vehicles, carpooling, cycling etc., which will reduce the emission.

Conservation of Power
Electricity is generated mainly through burning of coal – a limited resource and detrimental to the environment, too. We need to look at alternates which are relatively better and sustainable on a long term. Solar power is an option.

Solar Energy
Electricity using solar power can be generated using – Concentrated Solar Power plants and Photovoltaic cells. Solar power is slightly expensive when compared to the fossil fuel option. There has to be mechanism that rewards and provides incentives to the owners who install the solar units. Unless there is a mechanism or drive from the government, people will stay away fom installing solar units as it is expensive.

Wind energy
Wind power is another renewable energy option for us. Wherever it is possible, the government should come forward to set up windmills and produce wind energy.

Biomass
We have an alternate option to produce energy from plants or animals – Biomass. These are self- sustainable options for fulfilling our energy needs without affecting the future environment.

Conservation of water
With the development happening at fast pace, the ground water in the country is fast depleting. It is primarily because of the increase in the human population and development. Earlier a single independent house used to utilize the water at a specific area, but now with the raising apartment numbers more and more families started focusing on the same area for ground water. Contradictory to the increasing in demand for the water, the supply is gradually coming down, thanks to the non-maintenance and preservation of our water bodies. There has to a guidelines which maintains and preserves the water bodies, which can be used as a source of water. We are losing so many water bodies as source of water. One good example is the Hussain Sagar Lake, an erstwhile water source for the citizens of the Hyderabad.
Also, there is no proper mechanism to store the rain water. Rain Water Harvesting should be made mandatory in all buildings and also introduced in common areas as this would increase the ground water level. If you observe, in our country itself, one part is distressing from flood whereas another faces severe drought. The irony is because there is no mechanism for water sharing or utilizing it appropriately. There is a definite need to link Rivers which will fulfill to some extent the water needs of the public.

Not only the water source should be improved, but water also conserved to ensure availability for future generations as the withdrawal of fresh water from the eco system is exceeding the natural replacement rate. As citizens we do have the responsibility to conserve water. Business houses should work towards recycling and treating the waste water and utilizing it for manufacturing, agricultural irrigation etc. This way, we will also be able to conserve our habitat also for wildlife and migrating waterfowl.

Waste management
As the human activities have led to the creation of more and more waste, there has to be an effective mechanism which manages these wastes. Waste that create are both degradable and bio-non degradable. As producers of waste, the citizens should be able to segregate the waste like organic, e-waste etc. This will help in easy disposal. Most of the waste that we produce is organic – that can be decomposed, but many are not aware of this fact.

Organic waste
Kitchen waste and food scraps, which form bulk of the waste, can be recycled using biological composting and digestion processes to decompose the organic matter. Once it is decomposed, this can be recycled as compost, which can be used as manure for agriculture purposes. If this is done at the individual household level or at the apartment level, the treatment of organic waste would become easier across the colony, city, state and country.

Paper waste
Another form of waste that we find is the paper waste. As we all know paper is produced from cutting trees, there has to conscious decision to conserve their usage. Certain things are unavoidable – like newspapers etc. But we have a mechanism to recycle them and use it for different purposes like notebook etc. This way we are ensuring that there is no wastage.

E-waste
With technology developing rapidly, another growing form of waste is the electronic waste or the e-waste. Since these materials contain sometime precious metals and contaminants like lead, cadmium, mercury etc., recycling or refurbishing them is a huge challenge. Awareness needs to be created among the public about the dangers that these electronic waste pose and the need for handling them properly. Also, there has to be mechanism in place through which these wastes are extracted from the consumers and refurbished.

While we have some techniques to manage the waste, our intent should always be to prevent the waste material being created as much as possible. This can be done by way of designing / using products which are reusable – viz. jute or cloth bags instead of the plastic bags, reuse of second hand products, avoiding disposable products like disposable cutleries, etc.

Conclusion
So, not only to address the issue of global warming and depleting resources, but to preserve the planet for the future generations, we must start acting immediately in conserving the resources and creating a resource pool. Let us create a living for the future by sustaining our needs.

Let us not be a part of the problem, but instead be a part of the solution.

Representation to improve the Feeder Services from HiTec City Station

On 02 May 2008, a representation / request was handed over to the Depot Manager of RTC (HCU) Mr Gopal Reddy reg. the issues faced in the Feeder services operated to connect the MMTS Trains. Issues that were highlighted include :

• No alignment of the feeder services with the MMTS Trains
• No adequate services to carry the MMTS Passengers
• Request to operate buses via. Satyam Info City, Oracle route also
• Clarification on the Combo Tickets / Issue of weekly / monthly tickets for RTC services

The response was positive from the manager and he promised to act on these points.
Complete copy of the letter is enclosed below
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

02 May 2008
To
The Manager
RTC
Hyderabad

Dear Sir
Sub : Introduction of more RTC Services from HiTec City Station / Streamlining RTC Services from HiTec City Station

This has reference to the decision of RTC to ply buses from HiTec City station till VBIT Park. From the MMTS Travellers Group, we appreciate this decision of yours and sincerely THANK YOU for this move.

At this juncture, we would like to bring to your notice few issues that are prevailing with respect to running buses from HiTec City Staion :

• First of all, buses are not being aligned with the MMTS Timings. (There are instances where the RTC buses leave before the Train arrives). Please operate the bus services after the train services so that maximum utilization can be had.
• Secondly, there are no adequate services to carry the passengers. Nearly we see around 120-150 passengers use the RTC services from each train in the morning peak hours. But we don’t have the necessary services to meet this demand. Please operate more services to meet the increase in passenger traffic.
• Currently, the buses are being operated only in route from HiTec City Station till VBIT Park via Cyber Towers. Since there are many companies like Satyam, Oracle situated near the Info City, we request you to consider operating buses in those routes also. (Enclosed is the proposed route map for your kind consideration from the Group)
• Next, the buses are being detained for almost 10 minutes or more between HiTec City station and Cyber Towers for issuing tickets. For a journey of nearly 15 minutes, retaining buses for 10 minutes or more does not make sense at all, as this increase the travel time. Hence, please arrange to issue seasonal tickets / weekly tickets for this short route. Or at least make this combined pass valid for “Metro” services too.
  

We request you to kindly consider the above points and take appropriate measures so that the MMTS commuters can have a peaceful travel to their offices.

Thanking You
For MMTS Travellers Group

Bhaskar K

Vijayaraghavan K


Encl : Proposed Route, MMTS Train Timings

Additional Rakes for MMTS

HYDERABAD: Two or three more railway rakes will augment the services of Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) trains in the city and outskirts in the next five months.

Presently, seven rakes operate 87 services and more rakes are being added in view of the growth in passenger traffic. The average number of passengers using MMTS each day has grown from 15,000 in 2003 – the year in which it was launched – to 81,000 now, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was informed on Monday at a joint meeting of railways and the State Government officials.

Briefing reporters later, J.N. Jagannath, Chief Operations Manager of South Central Railway (SCR), said the meeting reviewed the running of the MMTS trains and identified some bottlenecks.

Dr. Reddy asked the railways to issue rail-cum-bus tickets within 15 days. The combined ticket might work out to Rs. 400 a month. The SCR and AP State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) could share the cost equally.

Bus connectivity
On a representation by the railways for feeder roads and bus connectivity at MMTS stations, Dr. Reddy asked the APSRTC higher-ups to ensure need-based bus services even if they were not profitable initially. Mr. Jagannath said the second phase project involved extension of services to Bhongir, Shamshabad airport, Bolarum and Medchal. The existing bypass track from Moulali to Sanathnagar, which now catered to goods trains, would also be upgraded. The State Government would bear two-thirds of the project cost of Rs. 385 crore.

The meeting decided to nominate two senior officers of railways and RTC to monitor the services on a daily basis.

Mr. Jagannath added that the revenue of Rs. 2.81 lakh a day on MMTS services was not economically viable.APSRTC Managing Director V. Dinesh Reddy, Commissioner of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation C.V.S.K. Sarma, and Government Advisor Stanley Babu attended the meeting.

Source : The Hindu

Railways all set to meet increased MMTS passenger Traffic

Hyderabad, Sep 3 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today asked the APSRTC to increase bus connectivity at all MMTS Stations as needed even if it was not found profitable in the initial days.

The Chief Minister also asked the South Central Railway to start issuing combined tickets for MMTS and city buses within 15 days. The combined ticket, in all probability, would cost Rs 400 only with the SCR and RTC sharing the cost equally. It was also decided a special purpose vehicle will be formed to make the MMTS viable.

This was decided during a review meeting on the functioning of Hyderabad MMTS with officials of the RTC and Railways.Dr Reddy said there should be operational-level coordination by the SCR and RTC with officials from both the organisations monitoring the running of MMTS and connecting buses on a daily basis.

The Chief Minister was firm that there should be connecting buses from all the MMTS stations for the commuters. He also said the state government would take up the second phase of MMTS with the Ministry of Railways for sanction.

Hyderabad MMTS was a equal joint venture between Andhra Pradesh Government and Indian Railways. The cost for the second phase would be shared with Andhra Pradesh Government.

The South Central Railway had forwarded the proposals to Railway Board. The Chief Minister said he would take up the issue with the Board and Ministry at the earliest.