“Hyderabad Metro Unveils TUTEM App for Women’s Safe Travel, Backed by ADB”

TUTEM App to Boost Women’s Safety in Metro Travel: HMRL MD NVS Reddy

Hyderabad, April 24: In a significant move to enhance women’s safety in urban transportation, Hyderabad Metro Rail Managing Director NVS Reddy on Wednesday unveiled details of the TUTEM (Technologies for Urban Transit to Enhance Mobility and Safe Accessibility) project—an innovative, app-based solution soon to be made available to the public.

Speaking at a user workshop held at BITS Pilani-Hyderabad Campus, Mr. Reddy said that the TUTEM app, developed with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is a collaborative initiative between Hyderabad Metro Rail, Hyderabad City Police, BITS Pilani-Hyderabad, IIT Kharagpur, and IIT Bombay.

Highlighting the importance of safe and accessible public transportation, Mr. Reddy said the initiative aligns with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s vision of prioritizing safety, particularly for women commuters in Hyderabad. “Public transport is the only sustainable solution to the city’s growing traffic problems. With TUTEM, we are addressing not just transportation but the safety of the journey from start to finish,” he stated.

How TUTEM Works:

The app comprises two components—a Driver App and a User App—designed to provide end-to-end safety and mobility solutions for commuters. The TUTEM system extends beyond the Metro journey, offering assistance for first-mile and last-mile connectivity through walking, two-wheelers, cars, buses, or auto-rickshaws.

For women in particular, the app includes a real-time alert mechanism that allows them to notify police control centers, as well as family and emergency contacts, if they feel unsafe during any part of their commute.

Mr. Reddy emphasized that engineering and technology-driven solutions are critical to addressing socio-economic challenges, reaffirming Hyderabad Metro Rail’s commitment to innovation. With over 5 lakh passengers using Metro services daily, the city’s metro system has played a pivotal role in providing eco-friendly and reliable transportation for the past seven years.

Expansion Plans & Future Vision:

BITS Pilani Vice-Chancellor Prof. V. Ram Gopal Rao said the app has been carefully designed with features that ensure women can travel safely even during late-night hours. He expressed confidence that the TUTEM initiative could be scaled to other Indian cities in the future.

Other dignitaries present at the event included ADB representative Josephine Aquino, BITS Pilani-Hyderabad Director Prof. Soumyo Mukherjee, IIT Bombay’s Prof. Avijit Majhi, and BITS Prof. Prashanth Sahu, who contributed to the development and refinement of the app.

The TUTEM app is expected to be launched for public use soon, marking a major step forward in integrating technology with public safety and urban mobility in Hyderabad.