Nine DEMU trains from Secunderabad back on track

HYDERABAD: Nine DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Locomotive) trains plying on Secunderabad-Medchal-Bolarum-Manoharabad section were restored within 19 days after the South Central Railway (SCR) cancelled the services citing ongoing MMTS phase II works.
On December 28, the announcement by SCR on the temporary cancellation of 31 DEMU services for three months from January 1 to March 31 drew flak from scores of daily commuters, who took to social media sarcastically describing the cancellation of services as ‘New Year gift from the railways.’ Many office-goers heaved a sigh of relief with restoration of the train services on Monday.Crowds for other public modes of transport, especially buses, became thinner as many went for the trains, which are cheaper and faster.
“The DEMU trains started plying from January 20, but as it was a Sunday, the crowd was very less. However, as the news of the DEMU services being restored started spreading, many people took the services to return home after work,” said a railway official.
However, the restoration of the train services has drawn flak from a few people commuting through Secunderabad-Falaknuma-Umdanagar section where DEMU trains were cancelled because of ‘operational reasons’. It is not known if the SCR would restore the DEMU services on this route before March 31.
“We had suspended the DEMU train services on Secunderabad-Medchal-Bolarum and Manoharabad section from January 1 because of the MMTS phase II works. Most of the works pertaining to this section have been completed, so we resumed the DEMU services,” said a senior railway official.