Metro rides in Bengaluru are set to become more expensive as the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) board has approved a recommendation to increase fares. The official announcement detailing the extent of the hike and its implementation date will be made shortly.
This is the first fare revision by BMRCL since 2017 and comes just two weeks after the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation raised ticket and pass prices by 15 percent. The current Metro fares range from Rs 10 to Rs 60, with Smart Card users receiving a 5 percent discount.
“The exact extent of the hike, along with details of concessions for Smart Cards and other ticketing systems, will be disclosed soon,” a BMRCL spokesperson was quoted as saying in The Indian Express report.
Bengaluru Metro’s financial difficulties
BMRCL currently operates a 77 km network, with the Purple Line covering 43.5 km and the Green Line spanning 33.5 km. Since its operations began in 2011 on the Baiyappanahalli-MG Road route, BMRCL has faced financial difficulties, incurring a cumulative loss of Rs 1,280 crore over the past three years.
However, the corporation reported a decrease in losses from Rs 476 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 341 crore in 2023-24, partly due to daily ridership reaching 8.5 lakh on non-holiday weekdays.
40-45% fare hike likely
The fare revision follows recommendations from a committee led by a retired high court judge after public consultations. The committee has proposed a 15-20 percent fare hike.
Bangalore Central MP P C Mohan criticised the decision, stating he was “disappointed” by the move to “impose a 45% fare hike.”
Last week, Mohan urged BMRCL Managing Director Maheshwara Rao to reconsider the fare revision, warning that it would push people from public transport to private vehicles, exacerbating traffic congestion.
“BMRCL must act urgently to resolve key issues in its services. Overcrowding in Namma Metro has caused door malfunctions and disputes among passengers—this is unacceptable. BMRCL must prioritize adding Metro coaches, expediting delayed lines, and improving operational efficiency. It must also enhance security, streamline entry and exit, and improve parking, queue systems, and last-mile connectivity for a better commute. Hiking fares without fixing these issues will force people to use private vehicles, worsening congestion. BMRCL must rethink its priorities,” he said on Friday.