Bengaluru Metro Fare Hike Suspended Following Public and Political Backlash
In a significant reversal, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) announced on Sunday that it has put on hold its plan to implement a 5% fare increase, which was scheduled to take effect on Monday. This decision comes in response to mounting public anger and a heated political debate that erupted after the fare revision was announced just days earlier.
Immediate Halt and Future Uncertainty
BMRCL issued a statement clarifying that the implementation of the Annual Fare Revision has been kept on hold until further orders. The corporation did not provide a new date for when the fare hike might be reconsidered, stating that a final decision will be made after a thorough review by its board. This pause marks a swift response to the widespread discontent among commuters and the escalating political tensions.
Background of Fare Increases and Financial Context
The proposed hike is part of an annual revision mechanism recommended by the Fare Fixation Committee, which had previously led to a substantial 71% increase in fares last year. This made Bengaluru Metro the costliest urban rail network in India. Under the now-suspended plan, the minimum fare would have risen from Rs 10 to Rs 11, and the maximum fare from Rs 90 to Rs 95.
BMRCL has defended the need for higher fares by citing financial commitments, despite reporting an operational profit of Rs 229.4 crore. However, commuter groups have strongly criticized the move, arguing that salaries and public transport usage have not kept pace with the rising ticket prices, making daily travel increasingly unaffordable for many residents.
Public Protests and Political Maneuvering
The announcement of the fare hike triggered immediate protests from various citizen forums, who organized demonstrations outside metro stations. This public outcry forced political parties to take clear positions on the issue, leading to a war of words between BJP functionaries and the Congress-led state government.
Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya claimed credit for the reversal, stating that his intervention with Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manoharlal Khattar was instrumental in the decision. Surya described the pause as a victory for the city but warned that it is only temporary relief. He urged the state government to restore cash support mechanisms that previous administrations had provided to keep travel affordable and called for a new fare fixation committee to ensure a fair and transparent review process.
Accusations and Counterclaims Over Funding
Earlier in the day, Karnataka IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge accused the central government of starving BMRCL of funds since 2014. He pointed out that metro projects are supposed to be financed in a 50:50 ratio between the state and the centre, but alleged that the centre failed to contribute its share, forcing Karnataka to bear 87% of the expansion costs.
The political exchanges intensified throughout the day. Surya, seen wearing a T-shirt with the message ‘FareHikeBeda’ (No Fare Hike), met with commuters and accused state officials of pushing for automatic annual increases despite public resistance. In response, the Karnataka Congress questioned on social media how BJP MPs could claim to pause a fare hike if the central government had no role in fare fixation, highlighting the ongoing blame game.
Broader Implications for Urban Transport
This episode underscores the challenges in balancing financial sustainability with affordability in public transport systems. The suspension of the fare hike reflects the power of collective public action and the complex interplay between state and central politics in infrastructure funding. As BMRCL awaits further board review, commuters remain in limbo, with the future of metro fares in Bengaluru hanging in the balance amidst ongoing debates over governance and equity.
