Bengaluru’s Namma Metro: India’s priciest transit

Mahindra Kumar, a daily metro rail commuter between Baiyappanahalli and Cubbon Park, used to pay ₹19 earlier for a one-way ride. Now he pays ₹28. “I am paying ₹9 more for each trip, which adds up to ₹18 daily and over ₹500 a month. It may not seem like much to some, but for regular commuters like me, it’s a burden,” he says.

Public transportation in Bengaluru is becoming increasingly expensive, not just the metro but also BMTC buses, says Kumar. “With rising travel costs, commuting within the city is becoming a financial strain,” he said.

HC declines to intervene

Kumar’s story is similar to that of lakhs of Namma Metro passengers who were in for more disappointment as the Karnataka High Court, on April 1, declined to intervene in the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited’s decision to increase metro fares, dismissing a Public Interest Litigation petition that argued the hike amounted to a “breach of promise” as it exceeded previously stated limits.

The fare hike — the first revision in over seven years — has made Namma Metro the costliest transit service in India among the major cities with metro services. The revised fares, effective February 9, saw the maximum ticket price go up by 50%, from ₹60 to ₹90. The first fare revision since the metro began operations in Bengaluru in 2011 took place in 2017.

The fare increase, implemented on February 9, in some cases, approached 100%. Amid public outrage, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah intervened on February 13, instructing BMRCL Managing Director M. Maheshwar Rao to roll back “abnormal” fare hikes. Following this, BMRCL adjusted the increase, limiting the maximum stage-wise fare hike to 71%. However, the base fare and the highest ticket price remained unchanged at ₹10 and ₹90, respectively.

Under the revised pricing, the maximum fare rose from ₹60 to ₹90, while the minimum fare for the shortest distance (0-2 km) remained at ₹10. The fare for the 2-4 km distance increased from ₹15 to ₹20, while those travelling beyond 30 km now have to pay ₹90. The revised fares were implemented on February 14, with some commuters noticing reductions of ₹9 to ₹10 on certain routes.

Further aggravating commuter concerns, BMRCL discontinued QR code-based fare discounts, restricting them solely to smart card users. Even for them, the discount has been reduced to 5%. Additionally, the minimum balance required on smart cards was raised from ₹50 to ₹90. However, a 5% off-peak discount remains available, bringing the total discount to 10% for those travelling outside rush hours — before 8 a.m., between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., and after 9 p.m. on weekdays. A flat 10% discount is also applicable on Sundays and national holidays.

The fare revision also affects tourist and group passes, with new rates set at ₹300 for a one-day pass, ₹600 for a three-day pass, and ₹800 for a five-day pass. The metro fare hike followed the Karnataka government’s announcement of a 15% increase in bus fares.

Most expensive in India

The recent fare hike has made Bengaluru Metro the most expensive metro service in India. In contrast, Kolkata Metro, operated by Indian Railways, remains the most affordable, with fares starting at ₹5 for short distances and going up to a maximum of ₹50 for longer routes.

In contrast, for journeys beyond 25 km, Namma Metro now charges ₹90, whereas Delhi Metro’s fare for distances over 32 km is ₹60, and Chennai Metro’s is ₹50. Meanwhile, in Kolkata, the fare for trips between 25 and 30 km is just ₹25.

Unlike Bengaluru, most other metro systems continue to offer discounts for both QR code and smart card users. Many commuters argue that removing the QR code discount in India’s tech hub contradicts the vision of Digital India. Metro operators in Chennai and Kochi still offer a 20% discount on smart cards, QR codes, and WhatsApp tickets.

BMRCL has also raised the minimum balance requirement for smart cards from ₹50 to ₹90, a policy not seen in any other metro service in India. Since its launch in 2011, BMRCL has issued around one crore smart cards. Additionally, the cost of daily and multi-day passes has increased significantly, with the one-day pass rising from ₹150 to ₹300, the three-day pass from ₹350 to ₹600, and the five-day pass from ₹550 to ₹800.

It has also reduced discounts on smart cards and QR code tickets, while other metro systems across India continue to offer significant fare benefits. For instance, Delhi Metro provides multiple discounts to encourage ridership and affordability. Smart card users receive a 10% discount on every journey, with an additional 10% off during off-peak hours to promote staggered travel. Delhi Metro also offers discounted fares on Sundays and national holidays.

Similarly, Chennai Metro provides a 20% discount for passengers using smart cards, National Common Mobility Cards, and online QR code tickets. Hyderabad Metro offers student passes where students get 10 free trips for every 20 trips purchased while Kochi Metro offers student passes, including the “Vidya” pass, with options for daily, 30-day, and 45-day travel, — an initiative that Bengaluru Metro does not provide.

Meanwhile, in Hyderabad, metro authorities are considering a fare hike, and a fare fixation committee has been appointed. The previous government had not allowed any fare increase due to the Assembly elections. L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad, which built and operates the project under a public-private partnership.

Auto more economical

The cost of two end-to-end metro trips has now jumped from ₹120 to ₹180, making shared cabs or autos a more economical choice for families travelling together. Unlike Delhi and Chennai, Bengaluru lacks a shared autorickshaw system, and the limited BMTC feeder bus service forces commuters to rely on expensive private autorickshaws or bike taxis for last-mile connectivity. With the High Court on March 2 directing aggregators to stop bike taxis, it will soon no longer be an option. Those using personal vehicles must also bear the added expense of parking fees at metro stations.

Since the fare hike, commuters have expressed their discontent online and through on-ground protests, including demonstrations inside metro trains. Many have voiced concerns that the increased costs are making public transport unaffordable, pushing people toward private vehicles instead.

Ridership data for Namma Metro indicates a sharp decline following the fare hike on February 9. Before the increase (February 2-7), the average daily boardings stood at 8,44,899, peaking at 8,70,687 on February 7. However, post-hike (February 9-14), average daily ridership dropped to 7,51,560, with a drastic dip on February 9 (6,23,123), the lowest recorded during this period. This suggests an immediate impact, as many commuters may have switched to alternative transport options due to higher fares.

Why it is most expensive

BMRCL stated that the fare hike was based on recommendations from a fare fixation committee (FFC) appointed by the Union government on September 7, 2024. The committee, chaired by a former High Court judge, submitted its report on December 16, suggesting a fare revision after considering operational costs, passenger feedback, and expert consultations.

BMRCL Managing Director M. Maheshwar Rao explained that the FFC had recommended fare increases of up to 105.15%, resulting in an average hike of 51.5% (6.87% per year). However, the final revision was lower than the 14.02% annual increase initially proposed by BMRCL.

Passengers argued that the increased fares would force low-income commuters to revert to private vehicles, further worsening Bengaluru’s already severe traffic congestion — an issue the metro was meant to alleviate. Critics also highlighted that despite the Namma Metro covering only 76 km, it now has a maximum fare of ₹90, whereas the 353 km-long Delhi Metro charges just ₹60 for trips exceeding 32 km.

BMRCL cited Section 37 of the Metro Railway Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Act, 2002, which states that FFC recommendations are binding. However, critics pointed to Tamil Nadu’s 2021 decision, when the then Chief Minister, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, reduced Chennai Metro fares despite similar recommendations.

Rao admitted that technical errors had impacted the fare calculations and announced corrections to the pricing structure. “This revision aligns with the spirit of the Fare Fixation Committee’s recommendations while addressing commuter concerns,” he said.

Political showdown

The fare hike has sparked a political showdown between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP. BJP leaders submitted a memorandum to BMRCL demanding a rollback, accusing the Congress government of burdening citizens with higher fares.

The Congress, however, shifted the blame to the BJP-led Central government. Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy stated, “BMRCL revised fares based on recommendations from the fare fixation committee constituted by the BJP-led Centre. Let the BJP explain who is truly responsible.”

Under mounting pressure, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah intervened on February 13, directing BMRCL to reverse the “abnormal” fare increases. “The way BMRCL has implemented the fare revision has led to anomalies, with fares more than doubling in some sections,” he wrote on social media platform X. “I have asked the MD of BMRCL to urgently address these issues and reduce fares where increases are abnormal.”

This statement contradicted his earlier stance that the Karnataka government had no control over BMRCL’s fare decisions, as the metro operates autonomously under a 50:50 partnership between the State and Centre.

Reasons for higher cost

When asked why and how fares remain lower in Kolkata and other cities but not in Bengaluru, a BMRCL official explained that Kolkata Metro is operated by Indian Railways, which heavily subsidises passenger fares. In Delhi, the Union government covers the cost of CISF security, whereas, in Bengaluru, a significant portion of revenue is allocated to staff salaries.

BMRCL officials justified the fare hike by citing rising operational costs and mounting debt. Staff salaries, which make up 61% of operational expenses, have increased by 42% since 2017, while energy costs have risen by 34% due to higher electricity tariffs. Maintenance and administrative expenses saw the steepest surge — 366% — now accounting for 20% of total operational costs, according to a statement released after the fare revision.

BMRCL faces substantial loan repayment obligations too. For 2024-25, it is set to repay ₹647.66 crore in loans and ₹122.94 crore in interest, bringing total liabilities to ₹770.60 crore. By 2029-30, loan repayments are expected to surpass ₹1,457 crore, with interest payments reaching ₹1,319 crore, pushing the total burden to ₹2,776.58 crore.

Poorly planned, say experts

Transportation experts criticised BMRCL’s handling of the fare hike, calling for greater transparency. Ashish Verma, convenor of IISc’s Sustainable Transportation Lab, dismissed the explanation of technical glitches, stating, “BMRCL must take responsibility. Why hasn’t the Fare Fixation Committee report been made public?”

Transportation expert M.N. Srihari described the fare hike as “unscientific and poorly planned,” arguing that fare revisions should be gradual rather than abrupt. “Public transport fare increases should be limited to 10-15%. BMRCL had not revised fares for eight years. Instead of implementing periodic adjustments, they suddenly imposed a 100% hike, which is unacceptable.”

Mr Srihari stressed balancing financial sustainability with public welfare. “While fare adjustments are sometimes necessary for operations, the recent hike raises serious concerns about affordability and accessibility. If public transport becomes too expensive, it risks losing its role as a primary mode of daily commute, ultimately defeating its purpose,” he added.

The Bangalore Metro and Suburban Rail Passenger’s Association has been actively opposing the metro fare hike. Prakash Mandoth, the association’s founder-president, stated that the “exorbitant hike” has led to many reverting to private transport, while a significant number of women passengers have shifted to BMTC buses, which offer them free travel.

(With additional inputs from Moyurie Som in Kolkata, Alisha Dutta in New Delhi, Snehal Mutha from Mumbai, Sunitha Sekar in Chennai, and V. Geetanath in Hyderabad.)