Bengaluru Metro commuters up against significant FARE HIKE

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Bengaluru Metro users are bracing for a substantial fare increase as the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has approved a 40-45% hike in ticket prices. A detailed announcement on the revised fare chart is expected soon, raising concerns about added financial pressure on daily commuters. While the base fare is likely to remain unchanged, the increase will primarily affect long-distance travellers on the Namma Metro network.

Currently, metro fares range from Rs 10 to Rs 60, but the proposed hike could raise the maximum fare to Rs 85. At present, BMRCL earns approximately Rs 2 crore daily from metro operations. With the fare revision, the corporation expects additional daily revenue of around Rs 80 lakh, depending on passenger turnout. The proposed hike stems from recommendations by the Fare Fixation Committee, chaired by retired Madras High Court judge Justice R. Tharani. Other members include Satyendra Pal Singh, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and E.V. Ramana Reddy, former Additional Chief Secretary of Karnataka. The committee analysed metro fare models in India and abroad before submitting its recommendations. This marks the first metro fare revision since June 2017. Bengaluru's metro network, which spans about 76 kilometres, is the second-largest in India after Delhi's.

The state government is already under scrutiny for recently implementing a 15% hike in state-run bus fares, adding to commuter dissatisfaction. The Namma Metro has seen significant ridership growth, driven by the network's expansion. However, overcrowding during peak hours remains a major concern, especially on the Purple Line, which serves East Bengaluru's IT hubs.

Commuters have called for more trains to alleviate congestion during rush hours. As BMRCL prepares to implement the new fare structure, commuters are hopeful that increased revenue will lead to improved services and infrastructure enhancements across the metro network.