After protests, Bengaluru Metro withdraws user charges for toilets at 12 stations

Several rights activists staged a protest on May 26 in front of the Vidhana Soudha metro station, demanding a rollback of the charges.

Facing criticism, the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has rolled back user charges for toilets at 12 of its metro stations located in the unpaid areas.

Sources said the management has directed staff not to collect user fees starting Tuesday morning. However, BMRCL is yet to issue an official statement on the issue.

Also, read: After 71% hike, Bengaluru Metro introduces user charges for toilets at 12 stations

Several rights activists staged a protest on May 26 in front of the Vidhana Soudha metro station, demanding a rollback of the charges. T Narasimhamurthy, who led the protest, said, “BMRCL has hiked fares by 71 percent, and charging passengers for using toilets adds to the burden.”

Karnataka BJP state president BY Vijayendra also criticised BMRCL’s decision to impose user charges in unpaid areas of 12 stations.

Citing a Moneycontrol report, he wrote on X: “After a brutal 71% fare hike, the @INCKarnataka government in Karnataka has stooped to a new low — charging people to use toilets in the unpaid areas of 12 Bengaluru metro stations! In a city already grappling with rising costs and crumbling infrastructure, Congress has now found a way to monetise even basic human needs.”

The toilets in the unpaid areas of the 12 stations were handed over to Sulabh International, which was tasked with maintaining the facilities and collecting user fees — Rs 2 for urinals and Rs 5 for toilets. The stations included: National College, Lalbagh, South End Circle, Jayanagar, Rashtriya Vidyalaya Road, Banashankari, Jaya Prakash Nagar, Yelachenahalli, Sir M Visvesvaraya Station – Central College, Dr BR Ambedkar Station – Vidhana Soudha, Cubbon Park, and Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Railway Station.

Also, read: Karnataka BJP hits out at Bengaluru Metro move to introduce user charges in unpaid areas