• By Imran Zafar
  • Wed, 12 Feb 2025 01:03 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

Bengaluru’s Namma Metro has become the costliest metro service in India following a steep hike in fares, sparking public outrage and a political tussle between the ruling Congress in Karnataka and the BJP-led Union government. The revised fare structure, implemented by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), has increased the maximum fare from Rs 60 to Rs 90, a nearly 50 per cent hike.

The fare hike has triggered a war of words between the Karnataka government and the BJP. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accused the BJP of spreading "false and misleading information" to blame the state government, stating that fare hike decisions fall under the Union government’s jurisdiction.

"BMRCL operates under the Metro Railways (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2002, which is controlled by the Union government. Since 2017, fares were not revised and BMRCL itself wrote to the Centre requesting a revision," CM Siddaramaiah said.

Amid growing discontent, a Congress delegation, led by former Jayanagar MLA and Mahila Congress president Sowmya Reddy, submitted a memorandum to BMRCL Managing Director Maheshwar Rao, urging an immediate rollback of the fare hike. The delegation, which included KPCC General Secretary S Manohar, argued that the fare increase has caused severe inconvenience to commuters and should be reconsidered in the public interest.

ALSO READ: Ranveer Allahbadia Controversy: Apoorva Mukhija Records Statement At Khar Police Station Amid Demands To Ban Samay Raina's Show

However, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya strongly criticised the fare hike, arguing that it disproportionately burdens middle-class commuters. Raising the issue in Parliament during Zero Hour, Tejasvi Surya claimed that Bengaluru Metro’s new pricing makes it the most expensive metro system in the country, especially for short-distance travel, where fares have doubled at several stations. He also met with the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, urging intervention to reconsider the fare structure.

Bengaluru Metro Revised Fare Structure

The new fare structure sets travel costs at:

  • Rs 10 for journeys up to 2 km

  • Rs 20-80 for distances ranging from 2 km to 25 km

  • Rs 90 for journeys beyond 25 km

Smart card users will receive a 5 per cent discount during peak hours and an effective 10% discount during off-peak hours.

ALSO READ: Juniors Made To Strip, Dumbbells Hung From Private Parts: Chilling Details Of Kerala Ragging Case Emerge; 5 Held

How Bengaluru Metro Fares Compare With Other Cities

With the maximum fare now set at Rs 90, Bengaluru Metro has surpassed Mumbai and Delhi in costs. Mumbai Metro fares range between Rs 10 and Rs 80, while Delhi Metro’s fare caps at Rs 60.