Metro fares to rise 5 pc from Feb 9

Bengaluru: The BMRCL on Thursday said that metro rail fares will be revised on a zone-by-zone basis starting February 9 as part of its Annual Automatic Fare Adjustment system. Under the new structure, Namma Metro fares will rise by Re 1 to Rs 5 across 10 zones, with charges adjusted according to travel distances throughout the metro network.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, also the minister in-charge of Bengaluru Development, claimed the matter has not been discussed with the state government or him. Speaking to reporters, he said the fare decision is made by a central government-led committee and is not under the state’s control.

“No file has come to me. They have their own team of central government officials who will decide. It hasn’t come to my notice—I also saw it on TV,” he said. The BJP criticised the move, saying it would encourage people to use private vehicles in a city already notorious for traffic congestion.

“In a city like Bengaluru, the mass transport system should be encouraged. Instead of promoting it, the government is effecting a hike, which will not only be a burden on the common man but will also worsen the situation in the city,” BJP state chief B Y Vijayendra told reporters.

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka posted on ‘X’, “After looting Kannadigas’ tax money and emptying the state treasury, the corrupt Congress government is now openly pickpocketing commuters. Honourable Siddaramaiah, Bengaluru metro fares are already among the highest in India. How much more will you pickpocket the public?”

He further charged, “The proposal to increase Metro fares and the fare hike itself are matters concerning the state, and the government must immediately stop this daylight robbery.”

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara slammed the opposition while justifying the metro fare hike. “What else can the BJP do other than criticise us? They fail to acknowledge the extension of Metro services, which now exceed 100 km, with lakhs of people commuting daily,” the minister said.

According to him, both the Centre and the state decide the Metro fare price; hence, the BJP also plays a role in the fare hike. The BMRCL said that the revision is being implemented as per the First Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) constituted under the Metro Railways (Operation & Maintenance) Act, 2002.

In a release, the BMRCL said the FFC, while recommending the revised fare structure, had observed that “revision of fare after 7.5 years and optimisation of fare zones from 29 to 10 has resulted in an average increase of 51.55 per cent.”