L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad, the concessionaire for the Hyderabad Metro, has extended Keolis’ contract to operate and maintain the Hyderabad automated metro system until November 2026. Opened to the public in 2017, the 69-km-long system has three lines and 57 stations. Currently serving over 450,000 passengers daily, it is the third-largest system in the country.

Keolis was involved in the development of the Hyderabad Metro in India for five years prior to its launch in 2017, acting as a shadow operator to bring practical experience to deliver the state’s first metro and saving the client over €15m. More importantly, Keolis created a more reliable network to deliver a better subsequent daily customer experience.

A transport offer adapted to the needs of the population

Keolis has been operating the Hyderabad Metro since 2017. After an initial contract period ended at the end of 2022, an extension was already granted until the end of 2025. This second extension demonstrates the renewed confidence and commitment to ensuring a reliable and efficient transport service. Keolis will continue to operate and maintain the 57 trains, the metro infrastructure, the automation and CBTC (Communication-Based Train Control) systems, enabling optimisation of train frequency and the fare payment solution.

Keolis has been working alongside L&T since 2012 and has contributed to the continuous improvement of passenger service in terms of comfort, passenger information, safety and cleanliness, as well as the management of major events such as Numaish, the Ganesh festival and the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches.

With a 90% overall satisfaction rate and a 99.5% punctuality satisfaction rate, Hyderabad’s network is now among the highest rated in the country. Keolis Hyderabad has also won several awards, including the Global Light Rail Award for two consecutive years, the UN SDG GEEIS Award, and the CII Kaizen Safety Platinum Award.

The network has several specific features that make it a modern mode of transport adapted to the expectations of the city’s inhabitants thanks to:

  • a connection to major bus and train stations,
  • service to university areas, commercial and business districts,
  • traffic on viaducts,
  • automation and use of CBTC (Communication-Based Train Control) technology allowing optimisation of train frequency in complete safety and very high punctuality,
  • electronic payment solutions for transport tickets, notably through the use of QR codes. 80% of tickets are purchased contactlessly.

In a city of more than 12 million inhabitants, where more than 1,000 new cars are put into circulation every day, this network contributes to a reduction in travel time for residents, as well as to the reduction of car traffic, and contributes to the improvement of the quality of life of residents, by offering them a reliable and environmental alternative in terms of shared transport.

Keolis: world leader in metro operations

Keolis currently operates eight metro networks, representing nearly 564 km of track worldwide:

  • In the United Kingdom, in London, with the Docklands Light Railway since 2014.
  • In India, in Hyderabad, with a network of three lines (red, blue and green lines), launched in 2017.
  • In the United Arab Emirates, Dubai has the world’s longest two-line automated metro network (Red and Green lines) since 2021.
  • In Qatar, in Doha, with a network of three lines (gold, green and red lines), launched in 2019.
  • In Lille, with line 1, the first automatic line in Europe (1983) and line 2 (1989).
  • In Rennes, with line A (2002) and line B (2022).
  • In Paris, with lines 16 and 17 of the Grand Paris Express, which will begin operating in 2026, as well as line 18.
  • In China, since 2018 in Shanghai, line 8.3 in the Pujiang district, then in 2019 at Pudong airport with the circular automatic metro line connecting the four terminals.
  • In Ivory Coast, in Abidjan, Keolis is expected to launch a network by 2028.