Why no platform safety walls in Hyderabad Metro, asks activist Lubna Sarwath

Hyderabad:  Social and environmental activist Dr Lubna Sarwath has raised concerns over the absence of safety infrastructure in Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL), especially when compared to the Ahmedabad Metro. In a letter to the Managing Director and CEO of L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited, she questioned why platform-edge safety walls are not installed at any Hyderabad Metro station.

Dr Sarwath pointed out that in Ahmedabad, all metro platforms are equipped with full-length safety walls that are the height of the metro train and include automatic gates. These gates open only when a train arrives and aligns with the doors, preventing accidental falls and stopping people from crossing the tracks. She asked why such safety measures were not part of the Detailed Project Report for Hyderabad and why Hyderabad commuters are deprived of this basic protection.

She also drew attention to the fare disparity between the two cities. The minimum fare in Ahmedabad Metro is ₹5, while it is ₹12 in Hyderabad. The maximum fare in Ahmedabad is ₹25, compared to ₹75 in Hyderabad. She said that even after a steep fare hike, HMRL offered only a 10 percent discount.

Dr Sarwath questioned the justification for higher fares in Hyderabad, noting that HMRL has around 7.5 lakh daily commuters, whereas Ahmedabad Metro has only 1.3 lakh. Despite Hyderabad’s higher ridership and lower capital investment due to the lack of safety walls, the metro continues to claim losses and increase fares, she said, even though the Chief Minister of Telangana reportedly opposed the fare hike.

She also criticised the additional burden of parking charges on commuters. Ahmedabad Metro does not charge for parking, while HMRL does. She pointed out that malls in Hyderabad under GHMC and HMDA are not allowed to charge parking fees from customers, raising the question of how HMRL is permitted to do so.

Dr Sarwath further urged HMRL to install rooftop solar panels, replace steps with ramps for easier access, and set up rainwater harvesting structures with proper metering. She called for a third-party, people-based socio-environmental and financial audit of HMRL operations.

She described the situation as a public urgency and called for immediate changes to improve commuter safety, affordability, and environmental responsibility.