Bengaluru Metro fare hike: Siddaramaiah says no control over BMRCL’s decision, Tejasvi Surya raises issue in Parliament

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya traveled on the 3-km metro extension from Nagasandra to Madavara last November.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said that he has no control over BMRCL’s decision to increase fares.

“BMRCL is an autonomous body, meaning the Karnataka government does not have full control over its decisions,” he said.

Amid opposition to the Bengaluru Metro fare hike, Siddaramaiah accused BJP leaders of misleading the public to blame the Karnataka government. He acknowledged people's right to protest but criticised the BJP for hypocrisy—taking credit for Metro expansion while deflecting blame for fare hikes.

He said that Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is a 50:50 joint venture between the Union and Karnataka governments, governed by the Union-controlled Metro Railways Act, 2002.

Also, read: Bengaluru Metro fare hike sparks political row; BMRCL to review anomalies

Meanwhile, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya raised the issue in Parliament during Zero Hour on February 12, highlighting the fare hike’s impact on Bengaluru’s middle class.

“This fare hike has led to a 100 percent increase in short-distance commutes across several Metro stations, making Bengaluru Metro the most expensive network and defeating the purpose of a sustainable public transport system. I urged authorities to review anomalies in the fare structure and make ticket prices more affordable,” said Surya.

Also, read: Metro fare hike: Bengaluru MPs, netizens call it unfair, demand rollback

Siddaramaiah reiterated that fares remained unchanged since 2017, prompting BMRCL to seek a revision from the Union government, not the state. In response, the Union government formed a Fare Fixation Committee (FFC), including representatives from both governments.

Also, read: Travellin' Blues: Congested Bengaluru now has the costliest Metro fare in India

“FFC, active from September to December 2024, studied Metro operations nationwide before submitting its recommendations. With Bengaluru Metro expanding from 42.3 km to 175.5 km by 2026, the committee reviewed fares from Metros like Mumbai and Delhi. Under Section 37 of the Metro Railways Act, BMRCL must implement the Union-appointed committee’s recommendations,” Siddaramaiah said.

Responding to Siddaramaiah, Surya countered, saying: “After coming to power in 2023, the Congress government has increased prices across the board—BMTC fares, electricity, property tax, excise, etc. Similarly, it was the state government that advised BMRCL to review metro fares and form a committee for fare fixation, initiating this entire process. State representatives in the committee pushed for fare hikes, and now the revised fare report has been released.”

“From the beginning, BJP has opposed this steep fare hike as an unfair burden on Bengaluru residents. If the state government is genuinely concerned, nothing in the law prevents it from requesting a review of the committee’s recommendations or even appointing a new fare fixation committee. Bengaluru MPs will ensure that Central government officials consider the concerns of Bengaluru’s people. Let the CM act, not just blame,” Surya added.

Also, read: Bengaluru Metro fare hike: Pressure mounts on BMRCL to reduce charges, Students' Union demands 50% discount