Bengaluru metro’s fare hike fiasco and backlash from commuters

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In a major setback for public transport users, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) announced a steep hike in Namma Metro fares on February 9, drawing widespread criticism from commuters and mobility experts. The fare increase, which in some cases neared 100%, triggered a political tussle between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP, with both parties blaming each other for the move.

Following public outcry, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah intervened on February 13, directing BMRCL Managing Director M. Maheshwar Rao to roll back ‘abnormal’ fare hikes. In response, BMRCL revised its decision, capping the maximum stage-wise fare increase at 71%. However, the base fare and the highest ticket price remain unchanged at ₹10 and ₹90, respectively, as originally announced.

How does the Namma metro raise fare?

Close on the heels of the Karnataka government announcing a 15% hike in bus fares, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) on February 9 announced a fare hike for Namma Metro. The revised fare structure came into effect the following day, significantly increasing travel costs for metro commuters.

Under the new structure, the maximum fare has increased from ₹60 to ₹90, while the minimum fare for the shortest distance (0-2 km) remains at ₹10. However, fares for the 2-4 km distance have risen from ₹15 to ₹20, and for distances beyond 30 km, passengers now have to pay ₹90. This marks the first fare revision in over seven years.

Adding to commuter concerns, BMRCL has also removed discounts for QR code users. Now, only smart card users will get a discount, though at a reduced rate of 5%. The minimum balance requirement for smart cards has also been raised from ₹50 to ₹90. However, smart card users can avail of an additional discount of 5% during off-peak hours, totalling 10% for those avoiding rush hours. Off-peak hours are defined as before 8 a.m., between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., and after 9 p.m. on weekdays. Additionally, a 10% discount will be available on all Sundays and national holidays.

The fare revision also extends to tourist and group tickets. The new rates for one-day, three-day, and five-day passes are now ₹300, ₹600, and ₹800, respectively.

What is the justification for the fare hike by BMRCL?

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

BMRCL Managing Director M. Maheshwar Rao said the FFC had recommended hikes of up to 105.15%, leading to an average increase of 51.5% (6.87% YoY). However, the final revision was lower than the 14.02% YoY hike BMRCL had initially sought.

How did the public react to the hike?

The fare hike sparked widespread dissatisfaction among daily commuters, many of who voiced their frustration on social media. Some commuters reported paying nearly double the previous fares for their regular routes.

Commuters argued that the fare hike would push low-income passengers back to private vehicles, worsening traffic congestion—the very issue that metro services were meant to address. Critics pointed out that despite Bengaluru Metro spanning only 76 km, the maximum fare now stands at ₹90, while the 353 km Delhi Metro charges only ₹60 for journeys beyond 32 km.

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

Fare hike triggers a political slug fest

The fare hike has led to political sparring between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP. BJP leaders, including Basavanagudi MLA Ravi Subramanya, submitted a memorandum to BMRCL demanding a rollback. Subramanya criticised the Congress government, saying, “BMRCL is not here to generate profit; it is a public transport system meant to serve the people. The Congress government is burdening citizens by increasing fares. They have raised the prices of essential commodities, and now public transport fares are soaring.”

The Congress, however, blamed the fare hike on the BJP-led central government. Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said, “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.”

Amid the political tussle, both BJP and Congress workers staged protests at metro stations across the city demanding a rollback of the fare hike.

Why the Karnataka CM was forced to intervene

Amid mounting pressure, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on February 13 directed BMRCL to roll back the “abnormal” fare hikes. “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 was in contrast to his earlier claim that the Karnataka government had no control over BMRCL’s fare decisions, as the metro body operates autonomously under a 50:50 partnership between the State and Centre.

How did BMRCL revise the fare hike?

Following the Chief Minister’s directive, BMRCL announced a revision the same day, capping the maximum stage-wise fare increase at 71%. Managing Director Maheshwar Rao, in a press conference, said the recalibrated fare slabs would take effect by February 14, benefitting around 46% of metro commuters (approximately 2.91 lakh daily passengers).

Rao acknowledged that technical errors had affected the fare calculation and announced a revision of the fare structure. “This revision aligns with the spirit of the Fare Fixation Committee’s recommendations while addressing commuter concerns,” Rao said. However, during the press conference, he struggled to provide clear explanations regarding the fare structure, using a whiteboard to illustrate calculations that many journalists found confusing.

By February 14, the revised fares were implemented. Many commuters noticed reductions of ₹9 to ₹10 on some routes, though the base fare of ₹10 and the highest fare of ₹90 remained unchanged.

What are experts saying about the fare increase?

Transportation experts condemned BMRCL’s handling of the fare hike. Ashish Verma, convenor of IISc’s Sustainable Transportation Lab, dismissed the explanation of technical glitches, stating, “BMRCL must take accountability. Why has the Fare Fixation Committee report not been made public? Transparency is crucial for a public transport service.”

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

Srihari emphasised that the success of Bengaluru’s metro hinges on its ability to balance financial sustainability with public welfare. “While fare adjustments are sometimes necessary to maintain operations, the recent hike has raised concerns about affordability and accessibility for the city’s diverse population. If public transport becomes too expensive, it risks losing its role as a crucial mode of daily commute, ultimately defeating its purpose,” he added. 

Is the fare hike revision citing rising costs justified?

BMRCL officials defended the fare hike citing increased operational costs and mounting debt. Staff expenses, which constitute 61% of operational costs, have surged by 42% since 2017, while energy costs have risen by 34% due to higher electricity tariffs. Maintenance and administrative expenses saw the sharpest rise—366%—now accounting for 20% of total operational costs, according to a statement by BMRCL after revision of fare.

Beyond operational costs, BMRCL faces significant loan repayment obligations. In 2024-25, it is set to repay ₹647.66 crore in loans and ₹122.94 crore in interest, with total liabilities reaching ₹770.60 crore. By 2029-30, loan repayments are projected to exceed ₹1,457 crore, with interest payments of ₹1,319 crore, taking the total burden to ₹2,776.58 crore.

How the fare raise affected Bengaluru Metro’s daily ridership? (For data, refer to infobox)

The ridership data for Namma Metro shows a noticeable decline after February 9, when BMRCL implemented a fare hike. Before the fare increase (from February 2 to 7), the average daily boarding count was 8,44,899, with the highest being 8,70,687 on February 7. However, post-fare hike (from February 9 to 14), the average daily ridership dropped to 7,51,560, with a sharp decline on February 9 itself (6,23,123), the lowest recorded during this period. This indicates an immediate impact on commuter behaviour, as many may have opted for alternative transport options due to higher fares.

While ridership recovered slightly after the initial dip, it did not return to pre-hike levels, suggesting a sustained effect, according to Srihari.

The decline is particularly significant considering that weekdays usually see higher commuter numbers, yet the post-hike weekday figures (February 10 to 14) remained lower than the pre-hike period. “This drop could put pressure on BMRCL to reassess the fare structure. If this trend continues, it could impact revenue projections, as lower ridership may offset the gains from increased fares,” he added.

However, Srihari emphasises that at least a month’s data is needed to determine whether the fare hike has had a significant impact on metro ridership, as short-term fluctuations may not provide a clear picture of long-term commuter behaviour.