The Bengaluru Metro has become the most expensive public transportation system in India after the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) hiked fares by up to 50% last week. Implemented on February 9 as per the recommendations of the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC), the increased price has sparked criticism from the public and opposition leaders.

With the revised fare structure, the minimum fare remains ₹10, while the maximum fare has increased from ₹60 to ₹90. The minimum balance required on smart cards has also been raised from ₹50 to ₹90. The new fares are ₹10 for up to 2 km, ₹20 for 2-4 km, ₹30 for 4-6 km, ₹40 for 6-8 km, ₹50 for 8-10 km, ₹60 for 10-12 km, ₹70 for 15-20 km, ₹80 for 20-25 km, and ₹90 for distances beyond 25 km. 

Apart from this, BMRCL has introduced separate tariffs for peak and non-peak hours while continuing the 5% discount on smart card transactions. Discounts on smart card fares will also be available on Sundays and national holidays.

Criticism over Metro fare hike

The sharp increase in BengaluruMetro fares has triggered widespread public anger, leading to an immediate decline in ridership. On Monday, passenger footfall dropped by 4% to 8.29 lakh.

Many commuters took to social media to express their frustration, with some announcing their switch to private vehicles, while others rallied behind the hashtag #BoycottMetro to protest the fare hike.

Apart from the general public, several politicians have also voiced their opposition to the metro fare hike. BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, sharing his concerns on X, wrote, "Urged the concerned authorities to review the anomalies in the fare structure and rationalise the ticket prices to make it more affordable for the common man."

Meanwhile, Sowmya Reddy and S Manohar demanded an immediate rollback of the fare hike in the public interest. "The increased Metro fares have caused severe hardship for commuters. TheBJPis politicising the issue by writing to the Central government to reduce fares while simultaneously spreading false claims that the state government is responsible for the hike," their letter stated.

Siddaramaiah blasts BJP Over Metro Fare Hike

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah criticized BJP leaders for shifting the blame onto the state government amid public outrage over the metro fare hike. Taking to X, he wrote, "The same BJP leaders who proudly claim Bengaluru Metro's expansion as the Centre's achievement are now blaming the Karnataka Government for the fare hike. This is nothing but self-deception and hypocrisy."

Who controls Namma Metro and decides fare hikes?

Namma Metro in Bengaluru is operated by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), a joint venture between the Union and Karnataka governments.

Metro fares have remained unchanged since 2017, prompting BMRCL to seek a fare revision from the Union Government. In response, the Centre established a Fare Fixation Committee (FFC), chaired by Justice R Tharani (Retd.), a former judge of the Madras High Court, with officials from both state and central governments as members.

The committee was given a three-month deadline to propose new fare rates. During this period, it consulted with metro administrations in Delhi and Chennai and discussed with BMRCL officials to analyze fare structures.

Also read: India’s metro hits 1000 km, becomes world’s 3rd largest under PM Modi’s leadership