Hyderabad: Despite earning a strong reputation among commuters, Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMRL), operated under the aegis of L&T, continues to operate at a loss since its inception.
According to reports, Hyderabad Metro Rail posted a loss of ₹625 crore during the 2024-25 midterm period. Additionally, it recorded further losses of ₹5.55 crore in the first quarter of 2025. Since its launch in 2017, the metro has accumulated total losses amounting to ₹6,598.21 crore.
Although Hyderabad Metro has gained considerable public patronage for its service, the organisation suffered a significant setback during the COVID-19 pandemic, when passenger numbers plummeted for nearly a year.
During this period, HMRL also had to service various project-related loans, exacerbating its financial burden. It reportedly took two years for passenger numbers to return to normal levels, by which time the metro was deeply entrenched in losses, amounting to ₹4,828.55 crore.
Last year, Hyderabad Metro Rail managed to mitigate some losses by mortgaging certain assets. Despite generating ₹1,400 crore through ticket sales and advertisements, the high interest payments on loans have continued to push the metro into substantial losses.
