From heritage lanes to high-tech hubs: How Hyderabad Metro is changing the city

In Hyderabad, where you live often determines how your day moves.

At dawn in the Old City, narrow lanes stir to life, history leaning out of crumbling balconies as two-wheelers squeeze past street vendors. Across town, in the western IT belt, swipe-ins and long commutes dictate an early start.


Two worlds—one city. For decades, connected by maps, but separated by access.

It is against this backdrop that the Telangana government has moved to take control of Phase-I of the Hyderabad Metro Rail. The decision brings a project built to connect the city’s fragments back into public hands—and raises a more urgent question: can improved public transport bridge Hyderabad’s long-standing divide?

Hyderabad Metro (File Photo)

Government steps in

Officials have approved the takeover by acquiring Larsen & Toubro’s equity for Rs 2,000 crore and assuming the company’s outstanding debt of Rs 13,000 crore. L&T, which currently holds nearly 90% stake in the operational Metro network, had signalled its intent to exit, citing sustained operational losses, and proposed that the transfer be executed through a government-owned Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).

"We expect the divestment to get completed by the end of the current fiscal FY26," L&T said in a filing to BSE.

“The takeover process will be carried forward in a carefully calibrated and mutually agreeable manner, duly ensuring all legal and statutory compliances,” chief secretary K Ramakrishna Rao told TOI.

The takeover represents a significant shift in Hyderabad’s urban transport landscape. With the Metro coming under direct government control, officials see scope for the system to function not just as a commuter service, but as a wider public utility that improves access to jobs, services and neighbourhoods across the city.

Phase 1 of the Hyderabad Metro Rail covers 72 km across three corridors, executed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The first corridor opened in Nov 2017, and the final stretch in Feb 2020.

Metro’s role in urban mobility

Public transport officials have repeatedly warned of the burden on Hyderabad’s roads as the city expands outward.

DVS Raju, chief electrical inspector to the Government of India for the Hyderabad Metro project, sees the Metro as critical infrastructure.

“Operating one kilometre of Metro is equivalent to replacing seven bus lanes or 24 car lanes,” he said.

Raju also highlighted the project’s environmental safeguards, noting that for every tree removed during construction, four to five saplings are planted, and existing trees are translocated wherever feasible as part of the Haritha Haram initiative.

Raju said the Hyderabad Metro provides convenient services and meets urban transportation needs. “While it’s true that we faced challenges in the first phase, we are taking cautious steps in planning Phase II,” he added.

As Hyderabad continues to grow outward, officials argue that mass transit systems like the Metro provide a way to integrate mobility planning with environmental considerations, while reducing dependence on private vehicles.

Phase-II hopes

While Phase-I established a basic network, the proposed second phase of the Metro is expected to significantly expand its reach.

Hyderabad Metro Rail Phase-II is planned across five corridors spanning 76.4 km, at an estimated cost of Rs 24,269 crore. Chief minister A Revanth Reddy has submitted proposals to the Centre seeking approval and funding support, proposing the project as a joint venture between the state and central governments.

The expansion is designed to improve connectivity between under-served parts of the Old City and major employment hubs in the western and northern parts of Hyderabad. Officials say the intent is clear: enable residents from older neighbourhoods to access employment, education and healthcare facilities more easily, while also improving access to heritage and commercial areas for commuters from newer parts of the city.

Centre–state engagement and Telangana Rising

The Metro expansion forms part of a wider set of infrastructure proposals placed before the Centre under the Telangana Rising framework, which outlines the state’s long-term goal of becoming a $3 trillion economy by 2047.

During meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CM Revanth Reddy sought central approvals and financial backing for Metro Phase-II along with other major infrastructure projects, including the Regional Ring Road, greenfield expressways, and high-speed corridors connecting Hyderabad with ports and cities such as Mangaluru and Rajahmundry.

“The state govt has already submitted proposals to the Centre for the expansion of the metro rail by 162.5 km. It is estimated to cost Rs 43,848 crore. The state hasproposed to take it up as a joint venture between the central and state govts,” Revanth told the Prime Minister.

The state government has argued that timely approvals are necessary to ensure that these projects progress in step with Hyderabad’s expanding urban footprint.

Political friction over approvals

Approval delays have drawn sharp criticism.

Congress MLC Vijayashanti has alleged that delays in granting approval for Phase-II may be politically motivated, accusing the Union government of slowing the process despite repeated representations by the state.

She urged BJP leaders and central ministers from Telangana to facilitate clearances, arguing that delays ultimately affect city residents who depend on public transport.

The debate highlights the complexities involved in executing large-scale infrastructure projects that require coordination between multiple governments.

Inclusivity and commuter safety

Alongside expansion plans, Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) has taken steps to strengthen safety and inclusivity across the network. Recently, 20 transgender persons were inducted into HMRL’s security workforce.

"The induction of transgender personnel into the security workforce stands as a strong symbol of social empowerment and inclusivity and a significant step towards strengthening women’s safety and public confidence in the metro rail system," the release said.

Earlier this year, in January, the Telangana government brought 39 transgender persons on board as traffic assistants to assist the city police.

Officials noted that women account for around 30% of Metro passengers, and the newly inducted personnel will assist with commuter safety, passenger guidance, baggage screening and maintaining visible security at stations and onboard trains.

The initiative reflects efforts to make the Metro system more inclusive while enhancing the sense of safety for daily commuters.

New tracks, old divides

Hyderabad’s physical layout reflects its social and economic contrasts.

In the Old City, connectivity remains limited and unpredictable. For residents living there, reaching workplaces, hospitals or colleges across town can mean hours on the road. Meanwhile, for newer residential zones, heritage neighbourhoods remain distant destinations, glimpsed occasionally but not lived in.

The Metro’s expansion is seen by planners as a key mechanism to narrow this gap—bringing the privilege of access closer to those who need it.


Funding and the road ahead

The state government has also begun discussions with financial institutions, including the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (Hudco), to mobilise funds for Metro expansion. These discussions include financing for related infrastructure projects such as housing schemes, road and radial networks, and proposed greenfield developments.

The Metro forms part of a broader infrastructure pitch placed before the Centre under the Telangana Rising framework, which outlines long-term plans to shape the state’s economic future.

For the government, approvals must keep pace with the city’s growth.

The stakes are high. Beneath the numbers lie everyday struggles—of commuters crossing a divided city, of hours lost in traffic, and of neighbourhoods cut off by uneven development.

Hyderabad’s Metro, now at a turning point, is being asked to do more than move people. It is being asked to reconnect a city.




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