- By Imran Zafar
- Mon, 06 Jan 2025 09:36 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Bengaluru’s Namma Metro is set to implement its first fare hike in nearly eight years, with ticket prices likely to be raised by 40-45 per cent. The base fare will reportedly increase to Rs 15 and the maximum fare will go up to Rs 85, compared to the current Rs 60. The decision follows recommendations from a government-appointed fare fixation committee, reported Deccan Herald.
The fare fixation committee, the first for the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), comprised retired Justice R Tharani, Additional Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs Satinder Pal Singh and former Karnataka IAS officer EV Ramana Reddy. It sought public feedback between October 2 and 28, 2024, before submitting its final report to the BMRCL board last week.
To reduce the burden on passengers, additional discounts will be available during off-peak hours and Sundays. Regular users with smartcards or QR code tickets will continue to enjoy a 5 per cent discount. The new fare structure is expected to take effect by the end of January 2025, in line with the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002, according to the Deccan Herald report.
The fare hike aims to address rising operational and maintenance costs, including surging electricity expenses and ageing infrastructure. Maintenance costs alone have increased by 300 per cent due to frequent repairs and the need for expensive spare parts.
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The last fare revision in 2017 saw a modest 10-15 per cent increase when the metro network covered 43.2 km. Since then, the operational network has expanded to 76.95 km and is expected to reach 175.55 km by December 2026 with the completion of Phases 2, 2A and 2B.