After receiving criticism for recent fare hikes, Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) announced plans to cap the fare increase at 70 per cent.
Addressing a press conference, M Maheshwar Rao, Managing Director, stated that the initially proposed fare hikes which went up to 100 per cent will be reduced to 30 per cent, effectively capping the maximum increase at 70 per cent. This revision is expected to benefit around 3 lakh passengers, according to BMRCL.
The revised fares will take effect tomorrow. However, Rao noted that the maximum fare for Bengaluru Metro will remain unchanged at ₹90.
Explaining the inconsistencies in fare hikes, Rao stated that fares exceeding a 70 per cent hike, up to 100 per cent, would be rationalised. These inconsistencies were discovered while calculating fare charges across 450 station-to-station combinations. The Fare Fixation Committee had initially recommended an 82 per cent hike, he added.
Fare hike
BMRCL introduced fare hikes on February 9, increasing the maximum fare from ₹60 to ₹90. The Fare Fixation Committee had submitted a report recommending this revised fare structure.
The fare revision was aimed at covering rising operational costs, including staff costs, which comprise 61 per cent of the cost and have increased by 42 per cent since 2017, owing to inflation and wage revisions.
The energy costs increased by 34 per cent (19 per cent of cost) over the same period. Furthermore, loan repayment expenses, depreciation costs have also contributed to the overall cost surge.
The fare hikes faced significant public backlash. Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya raised the issue during Zero Hour in Parliament, highlighting how the revision led to a 100 per cent increase in short-distance fares across several metro stations. He argued that this made Bengaluru Metro the most expensive metro network, undermining its purpose as a sustainable public transport solution.
In response to public concerns, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote to BMRCL, urging a revision of the fare structure to address commuter inconvenience, the MD confirmed.