Discontent Over Bengaluru Metro Fare Hike

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has instructed the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation to urgently address fare anomalies after a recent hike led some fares to more than double. Amid opposition and political accusations, the fare was revised for the first time since 2017 following a central government-appointed committee's recommendations.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has voiced serious concerns over recent fare hikes by the Bengaluru Metro, which have seen fares more than double in certain areas. Addressing these issues publicly, Siddaramaiah took to social media platform X to demand immediate corrective action from the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).

"The fare revision by BMRCL has resulted in anomalies and significant increases. I have instructed the MD of BMRCL to address and rectify these discrepancies urgently, ensuring commuters' interests remain safeguarded," Siddaramaiah asserted. This statement comes amid widespread public opposition and criticisms from the BJP, which has accused the state government of misleading the public.

The fare adjustments, the first since 2017, were determined by a committee formed by the central government, given BMRCL's status as an autonomous entity jointly operated by the central and Karnataka governments. The reviewing committee consulted multiple stakeholders before finalizing its recommendations, taking into account operational expansions and financial data.

Under the Metro Railways (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2002, BMRCL is mandated to implement the fare revisions as directed by the committee. The report, submitted after three months of evaluation, compares Bengaluru's fare structures to those of metro systems nationwide and recommends changes accordingly.

(With inputs from agencies.)