Hyderabad: L&T Metro Rail has begun charging parking fees at certain metro stations, which has led to mixed reactions from commuters. Some passengers are asking for better parking facilities near metro stations, while others want metro authorities to introduce feeder bus services for greater convenience.
L&T Metro Rail Limited recently announced that they will start collecting parking fees at Nagole and Miyapur metro stations. Parking fees at Nagole metro station will begin on August 25, and at Miyapur on September 1.
To prepare for the new system, a trial run was conducted at Nagole metro station. The parking facilities will now have organized parking areas for two-wheelers and four-wheelers. They will also offer improved amenities such as bio-toilets, round-the-clock CCTV surveillance, on-ground security, and app-based payment options, including QR codes.
However, many daily metro commuters have raised concerns about the introduction of paid parking. They argue that the current parking facilities are poorly maintained, with insufficient lighting and a lack of protective sheds in the parking areas. Some even pointed out that the parking charges are higher than the metro fare itself.
Robin, a metro commuter, expressed his frustration, saying, “The metro parking areas are in poor condition, with inadequate security and no proper sheds—just open ground. At some metro stations, they are already charging for parking, but the facilities are not properly maintained. The situation is the same at the two stations where they plan to implement the paid system. Why would passengers be willing to pay when the facilities are lacking? Instead, metro officials should introduce feeder buses, like those in Delhi, to help commuters reach the metro stations without needing to use their personal vehicles. While there are shuttle services at a few stations in our city, their frequency is very low.”
Mounika, another daily metro commuter, added, “Metro officials plan to charge for parking without first increasing the frequency of trains or adding extra coaches. The parking charges are higher than the metro fares themselves—Rs 10 for two hours for two-wheelers and Rs 30 for four-wheelers, with an additional Rs 5 and Rs 15, respectively, for every extra hour. Most metro passengers are employees, and the parking fees will end up costing more than the metro fare. It would be better if they came up with another solution.”
