Metropolitan Cities in Urban studies have attracted recent scholarship across disciplines. Urban Anthropologists paid attention to studying mobility, infrastructure related to mobility and its association with socio-cultural dimensions. The corporeal movement of people in Urban areas for their everyday activities has many social dimensions. Automobile inventions and their spread in the 20th Century USA & European cities were well documented by scholars. Very recently, the governments of Cities across the Globe are emphasising Urban public transport to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The study focuses on the changes that occurred in the urban social structure with the onset of a development program introduced for the mobility needs of people. Why some Hyderabad citizens avoid travelling in the Metro for their daily commuting is a puzzle. Are only economic factors responsible for their reluctance to participate? Or Are there any sociocultural factors inhibiting them from participating in this world’s largest PPP project for urban mobility? These are the broad research questions this study will look into.
This study collected Data through Observation, Mental mapping techniques, mobile methods, semi-structured interviews & Case study method. Results show that certain groups of people like Students, Unemployed youth, Women, Low-income groups, low-skilled labour, and old age people are not using “Metro” for their daily commuting. The unproductive activity of students is making them not take the Metro. Lack of financial resources is why unemployed youth are not opting for the Metro. Not getting recognition as a passenger by others through different travelled-related ritualistic behaviour is why low-income group people do not take metro rides. The lower status of women in the patriarchal family structure prevents them from taking METRO. The Hyderabad Metro came as a development program for the movement of people has perpetuated existing social inequalities.
