Metro fare hike: BMRCL likely to review commuters’ concerns

BMRCL officials to review concerns over steep metro fare hike in Bengaluru following widespread criticism and protests.

Following widespread criticism of the steep increase in metro fares, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials said they would review the concerns regarding anomalies in the revised fare structure.

Officials stated they would assess ridership data and take into account commuter feedback, as several passengers have reported disproportionately high fare increases for certain travel stages.

The fare revision, which came into effect on February 9, has sparked a wave of complaints from metro users. BMRCL officials confirmed they had received numerous grievances regarding the hike.

“We have been receiving a large number of complaints since the revised fares were introduced. Many commuters have pointed out significant fare jumps on specific routes, and we will carefully analyse the data to understand these discrepancies. A review will be conducted to ensure that the fare revision is reasonable and justified,” a senior BMRCL official said.

BMRCL cited Section 37 of the Metro Railway Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Act, 2002, which states that recommendations made by the Fare Fixation Committee are binding on the metro administration. However, many people have pointed out that in 2021, the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, reduced the maximum fare on Chennai Metro from ₹70 to ₹50, despite the fare committee’s recommendations.

With the latest revision, metro in Bengaluru now has the highest fares in the country. Although its network spans only 76 km, the maximum fare has been increased to ₹90 for distances beyond 25 km. In contrast, Delhi Metro, which operates a 353 km network, charges only ₹60 for journeys exceeding 32 km.

Many commuters have expressed frustration, stating that fares on certain routes have increased by 50% to 75%, significantly impacting their daily travel expenses. Several passengers have taken to social media and other platforms to highlight the financial burden caused by the steep hike, urging authorities to reconsider the decision.