Hyderabad’s ambitious metro rail project has hit a major turning point.
Infrastructure giant L&T, which has been operating the metro, has formally written to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Jaideep, expressing its inability to continue operations.
The company cited mounting financial losses, low ticket revenues and pending dues as the primary reasons behind this decision.
Consequently, L&T has proposed handing over the operations of the Hyderabad Metro to the state government.
While the move may appear to provide an immediate administrative solution, it has sparked serious public debate and concern.
Citizens and stakeholders are questioning whether the transition will affect the efficiency and service quality of the metro.
The project once hailed as a model for modern urban transport, has set high benchmarks in cleanliness, punctuality and professionalism.
Now, there are doubts if these standards will be maintained under direct government control or if they will be heavily compromised due to bureaucratic and financial challenges.
The Hyderabad Metro is one of the largest public-private partnership urban transport initiatives in India.
Its future now depends on how the state government handles the responsibility, manages resources and reassures commuters that the system will not deteriorate.
