Rail passengers seek rollback of Tungabhadra Express change

The Train Travellers Association has urged South Central Railway to roll back the shift of Tungabhadra Express’ terminal from Secunderabad to Kacheguda, saying the move has inconvenienced commuters from city suburbs and increased travel time and expenses.

Hyderabad: The Train Travellers Association has appealed to the South Central Railway (SCR) to roll back the recent change in the terminal point of the Tungabhadra Express, saying the move has disrupted travel plans for hundreds of regular passengers.

In a representation, the association said shifting the train’s termination from Secunderabad to Kacheguda has made commuting difficult, particularly for residents of Malkajgiri and nearby suburbs.

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According to the association, a large section of passengers travelling frequently to Kurnool district and other parts of Rayalaseema depend on this train, including government employees and private workers settled in areas like Moula Ali and AS Rao Nagar.

The members have pointed out that the lack of seamless suburban rail or MMTS connectivity to Kacheguda has forced commuters to depend on multiple modes of transport, increasing both travel time and expenses. Regular passengers, including staff working in towns such as Mahabubnagar and Gadwal, and students travelling towards Wanaparthy, are among those at a loss, they said.

The association suggested extending the train up to Medchal with additional stoppages at key suburban stations, or alternatively originating the service from Charlapalli to better serve passengers in the city’s northeastern corridor.

While welcoming the recent addition of extra AC coaches, the association has also sought an increase in unreserved accommodation, noting heavy crowding during peak travel periods.