BENGALURU METRO: WHO FOOTS THE BILL?

Heavy traffic jams and potholes have long drawn public ire in Bengaluru. Namma Metro, or the Bengaluru metro, has been a rare relief, offering commuters a smooth and efficient ride.

- BY HOWINDIALIVES.COM

But earlier this year, the system itself became a flashpoint when Bangalore Metro Rail Corp. Ltd (BMRCL) raised fares by 71%, sparking debates over affordability. BMRCL said the hike was based on a Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) report, which remained under wraps for months despite political pressure and Right To Information (RTI) requests. Finally, the report was released last month. And it showed the committee had recommended a smaller 51.55% hike, spread over 7.5 years. This has put the Bengaluru metro in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.

COSTLY COMMUTE FOLLOWING

THE hike, effective 9 February 2025, Namma Metro became the most expensive urban rail system in India.

The average cost of travel is now 3.97 per kilometre, higher than Mumbai (3.20), Delhi (*2.72) and Kolkata (*0.90). The contrast is sharper when fares are seen slab by slab. For example, in Delhi, 32 covers up to 12 km; in Bengaluru, a comparable fare of 30 covers just about half that. For longer distances, Delhi caps fares at *64 across its 395 km network, while Bengaluru's highest fare is *90, on its 77 km network, a 50% jump from the previous 60 maximum.

Initially, some fare brackets rose as much as 105% before being pared back, after chief minister Siddaramaiah called them abnormal and directed revisions. A survey of 1,126 people by the FFC found 51% opposed any hike, while 27% supported a reasonable increase. Following the rise, ridership fell 6%, stoking fears of worsening traffic congestion.

RISING BILL