- By Shubham Bajpai
- Sat, 29 Mar 2025 10:30 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
The L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad (L&TMRHL) is considering a revision of fares for all the services in the city. There are three operational routes in Hyderabad, and the authority is considering raising the price amid the mounting losses, as per a TOI report.
As per reports, officials refrained from sharing further details about the price revision but only hinted at the possibility, emphasising the staggering losses that accumulated since the project became operational in 2017.
The Hyderabad Metro has losses exceeding Rs 6,500 crore, which has raised concerns over the project's financial viability and sustainability.
In a statement, L&TMRHL said, "It is crucial to take measures to prevent the project from becoming a non-performing asset."
The statement released on Friday further added, "All steps have been taken to optimise other revenue streams from non-fare business, yet the possibility of a fare hike looms over as a necessary step to cover rising input cost elements for the financial sustenance of the project."
The Hyderabad Metro has seen no fare hike since its inception. In 2017, the fare was fixed at a minimum of Rs 10 for up to 2 km and a maximum of Rs 60 for above 26 km. With a probable fare hike, approximately 5 lakh commuters are to be affected daily.
The development comes in the wake of a fare hike in Bengaluru Metro. BMRCL, last month, increased the maximum fare to 90 for any travel beyond 25km.
L&TMRHL further added in its statement, "Fares notified in 2017 have not been increased despite significant inflationary pressures." The operator also underscored the fare hike by metro systems in other cities. In Bengaluru, fares have increased by 44 per cent since 2017, while in Delhi, fare was also adjusted in 2017.
"Our focus remains on improving and maintaining a high-quality service for our passengers while ensuring the financial viability of the metro system. We are continuously exploring ways to optimise costs and improve other revenue streams, including retail spaces and advertising, to bridge the fund gap," added the company statement.