Secunderabad Railway Station is handling around 1.6 lakh passengers a day during the Dussehra festive season, up from its usual daily footfall of about 1.2 lakh, as Hyderabad faces a wider surge in rail and road travel.
The South Central Railway (SCR) and the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGRTC) have made arrangements to manage the additional passenger movement. Highways leading into Hyderabad have also recorded heavier traffic, with congestion reported on the Vijayawada–Hyderabad National Highway (NH-65) from Wednesday evening.
Slow-moving vehicles and queues were reported at the Pantangi Toll Plaza near Choutuppal, adding to the transport pressure during the festive period. The highway is a key road connection between Hyderabad and destinations along the Vijayawada route, while Secunderabad station serves passengers from Hyderabad, Secunderabad and surrounding areas.
The station handles about 160 trains every day, including passenger, express and suburban services. With the daily footfall rising by approximately 40,000 passengers during the festive season, movement within the station premises and its approach roads has become a key operational concern.
Passengers arriving in private vehicles are being directed to use the parking facility in the cellar on the Platform No. 10 side of the station. The arrangement is intended to reduce vehicle accumulation in the station’s circulating area and keep access routes clear for passenger movement.
Staff have also been deployed to regulate the movement of autorickshaws. They are ensuring that autos do not stop in the throughway, where waiting vehicles can obstruct traffic and interfere with the movement of passengers and other vehicles around the station.
Dedicated spaces have been earmarked for app-based cab services, including Uber and Rapido. These designated pick-up and drop-off areas are intended to streamline vehicle movement and reduce congestion within the station premises during the period of elevated passenger demand.
The increase at Secunderabad station comes as festival travel affects multiple modes of transport serving Hyderabad. While railway authorities are managing higher passenger volumes at the station, congestion on NH-65 indicates parallel pressure on the city’s road links and entry points.
The current measures focus on managing the final approach to the station, particularly the interaction between passengers, private vehicles, autorickshaws and app-based cabs. The arrangements will remain relevant as festive travel continues and passenger volumes remain above the station’s reported normal daily average.
