Hyderabad’s common mobility pass fails to hit the mark

Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka scans his common pass at a metro station in the city. | Photo Credit: File photo

The much awaited common mobility ticket, intended to enable seamless travel between Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) and Telangana Road Transport Corporation (TGRTC) services, was expected to be a significant step towards integrated urban transport. Instead, within days of its launch, the initiative has drawn criticism from daily commuters about the steep pricing and that the design fails to address the city’s broader transport needs.

More importantly, critics say the pass overlooks two crucial elements of the city’s public transport ecosystem: the Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) operated by South Central Railway (SCR) and the last-mile connectivity provided by shared autos, shuttle services and other feeder modes that help daily commuters reach their final destinations.

The idea of a common ticket is not entirely new. Nearly two decades ago, the then Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad and SCR authorities attempted a similar initiative through an MMTS-RTC combined pass. While the concept was promising, the system faded away amid poor coordination between agencies and limited public uptake.

The newly launched pass, available at around ₹400 per day or ₹8,500 per month, allows unlimited travel on Hyderabad Metro Rail and TGRTC services within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits except the airport shuttles. A refundable security deposit is charged for the physical card, while a digital version is available through the Mee Ticket platform.