Bengaluru Metro commuters overcharged Rs 150 crore? Tejasvi Surya flags major error in fare hike, slams BMRCL

Bengaluru Metro

Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has accused the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) of a major miscalculation in its recent fare revision, claiming it has led to commuters being overcharged by nearly ₹150 crore since the fare revision.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, Surya, during a review meeting held on Tuesday, said the BMRCL made a major mistake in determining the base year for maintenance and administrative (M&A) costs, which forms the foundation of the Fare Fixation Committee’s (FFC) report.

The MP said BMRCL wrongly used outdated data from 2016–17 instead of 2017–18 to calculate M&A costs for the proposed fare revision, resulting in inflated fare slabs. “This incorrect computation has resulted in an unjustified increase in fares,” he was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Surya drew comparisons between Namma Metro fares and those of other major Indian cities.

In Bengaluru, a 20–25 km ride costs ₹80, while in Delhi, a 32 km ride costs ₹64.

In Mumbai, a 12–18 km journey costs ₹30, whereas in Bengaluru, a 10–15 km ride costs ₹60, double the price.

The highest fare in Mumbai is ₹70, while Bengaluru Metro charges ₹90 for trips beyond 25 km.

Overall, metro fares in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Nagpur are 25–50% lower than Bengaluru’s.

Metro fares in other Indian cities, even for similar distances, are lesser than that of Bengaluru Metro. In Bengaluru, a 20 - 25 km ride costs ₹80, while in Delhi, even a ride of 32 km is just ₹64. In Mumbai, a 12-18 km journey costs ₹30, yet in Bengaluru, traveling 10-15… pic.twitter.com/ZXok5v0bNN

— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) November 4, 2025

Surya contended that while the average fare hike is estimated at 51.5%, the most commonly used travel slabs (8–15 km) have seen increases of nearly 70%, placing a heavier burden on daily commuters.

The MP called on BMRCL to promptly correct the fare discrepancies and ensure commuters aren’t overcharged due to erroneous calculations. He also sought a detailed explanation from the corporation on how the mistake occurred and what measures are being taken to address it.

In response, as per the report, BMRCL officials assured Surya that a formal explanation will be shared soon.

Emphasizing the importance of affordable public transport, Surya was quoted by HT as saying: “Public transport must remain affordable, transparent, and accountable. Such lapses erode public confidence in vital urban mobility systems like Namma Metro.”