Confusion reigns as BMRCL stays silent on metro fare hike delay despite claims of Union government intervention.
Published Jan 30, 2025 | 12:00 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 30, 2025 | 12:27 PM
Bengaluru Metro. (Creative Commons)
Bengaluru’s much-debated metro fare hike has been thrown into uncertainty after BJP MP PC Mohan claimed that the proposed 45 percent increase has been temporarily halted following instructions from the Union government.
Taking to X, the Bengaluru Central MP described it as a “big win for the people of Bengaluru.”
He stated that the Modi government had directed the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to submit a comprehensive report before making any decision.
BMRCL’s proposed 45% metro fare hike, set for Feb 1, has been put on hold. The Modi government has directed BMRCL to submit a comprehensive report before making any decision. A big win for the people of Bengaluru—ensuring transparency, accountability, and fair metro pricing. pic.twitter.com/5LBJT70mX2
— P C Mohan (@PCMohanMP) January 29, 2025
“The Modi government has directed the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to submit a comprehensive report before making any decision,” Mohan said in a post on X.
However, when South First reached out to BMRCL for confirmation, the metro authority distanced itself from the announcement.
A spokesperson clarified that no final decision had been taken on when — or if — the fare hike would be implemented.
“We have not received any confirmation from the government. The management has not yet made a final decision,” the spokesperson said, adding that the implementation timeline remains unclear.
Mohan’s claim that the hike was set to take effect from 1 February has raised eyebrows, as BMRCL insists that no formal communication on implementation had been shared with commuters.
BMRCL had initially given the green light for a fare hike that would see ticket prices increase by up to 45 percent, with the maximum fare rising from ₹60 to ₹85.
The base fare was expected to increase to ₹15, up from ₹10. This revision was expected to mainly impact long-distance commuters while leaving short-distance fares relatively unchanged.
Speaking to South First earlier, a BMRCL spokesperson pointed to rising operational costs, expanded network infrastructure, and security expenses as key reasons for the fare increase.
“We haven’t raised fares since the beginning, but the growing cost of operations and expansions necessitated this decision,” the official explained, hinting that the fare hike would likely be implemented within the quarter.
With the fare hike now uncertain, Bengaluru’s metro commuters — especially office-goers and tech employees reliant on public transport — remain in limbo. Many have expressed frustration over the lack of transparency.
Commuters now await an official statement from BMRCL and the Karnataka government to put an end to the confusion surrounding metro fares in the city.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
