Bengaluru Metro Fare Increase Temporarily Halted Amid Political Turmoil
In a dramatic turn of events, the proposed 5 per cent fare hike for Bengaluru's Namma Metro, scheduled to take effect from February 9, has been put on hold, according to claims by BJP leaders. However, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has stated that it has not received any official communication regarding this suspension, leading to a heated exchange between political parties as the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections approach.
Details of the Proposed Fare Revision
The fare increase, part of an annual automatic revision mechanism recommended by the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC), would have raised ticket prices by Rs 1 to Rs 5 across all 10 fare zones. This adjustment would have elevated the minimum fare to Rs 11 and the maximum fare to Rs 95. Notably, this hike follows a significant fare increase in February 2025, which saw average rises of 51.55 per cent before discounts and 46.39 per cent after discounts, sparking widespread criticism from commuters, urban mobility experts, and opposition groups.
Political Accusations and Claims
BJP leaders, including Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, have asserted that the Union Government has intervened to freeze the fare hike. Surya reported that he discussed the matter with Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who allegedly instructed officials to temporarily suspend the increase. On social media platform X, Surya emphasized that Bengaluru already has the highest metro fares in India and argued that another hike would make public transport unaffordable for many citizens.
He further stated that Khattar promised a personal review of the FFC's recommendations and indicated that a new committee could be formed if requested by the state government. Other BJP figures, such as Karnataka state president B Y Vijayendra and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka, have echoed these claims, adding that Khattar assured a scientific and rational fare revision upon a formal state request.
State Government's Response
In contrast, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of the Congress party has clarified that the Karnataka Government does not have the authority to decide metro fares. He explained that under the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002, fares are determined by an independent Fare Fixation Committee constituted solely by the Government of India. According to Sections 36 and 37 of the Act, the committee's recommendations are binding, leaving no legal power for the state government or BMRCL to override them.
Siddaramaiah labeled the blame on Karnataka as factually incorrect and misleading, noting that the state has written to the Centre seeking a rollback of the price hike. However, BMRCL sources confirmed that no official directive to halt the hike has been received, with one officer expressing concern that such intervention could set a problematic precedent for other cities.
Context of Upcoming GBA Elections
The fare hike controversy unfolds as political parties gear up for the Greater Bengaluru Authority elections, which are likely to be held after an 11-year gap. The last civic elections in Bengaluru occurred in August 2015, with the tenure ending in 2020. Delays due to legal issues and governance restructuring have led to the appointment of administrators. The upcoming polls will mark the first election for 369 wards under the newly formed GBA, replacing the previous Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) system with 198 seats.
This political backdrop intensifies the debate over the fare hike, with both Congress and BJP leveraging the issue to appeal to voters. The lack of official communication from BMRCL adds uncertainty, leaving commuters in limbo as the situation develops.
