Public Outcry Over Surge in Metro Fare

{ POLITICAL PARTIES TRADE BARBS } REVIEWING CERTAIN ANOMALIES: BMRCL

- HT Correspondent

BENGALURU: The recent hike in Namma Metro fares, particularly for distances between 6 km and 25 km, has left commuters frustrated, with several passengers alleging that ticket prices have doubled on certain routes. While the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) attributes some of these steep increases to potential technical glitches, it is yet to clarify the cause.

The revised fare structure, which came into effect on February 9, marked the first increase since June 2017, averaging a 51.55% hike before discounts and around 45-46% after discounts. However, commuters have reported far greater increases. For instance, the fare for a 6.7-km ride between MG Road and Baiyappanahalli has surged from ₹20 to ₹40, though ideally, it should not have exceeded ₹30, commuters complained.

Beyond the fare adjustments, passengers have also raised concerns over the increased minimum top-up requirement for smart cards, which has been raised from ₹50 to ₹90. Justifying the move, a BMRCL official said that passengers must have sufficient balance to cover the maximum fare to avoid recharging at exit stations.