Karnataka CM seeks rollback of Bengaluru Metro fare hike, says Centre alone can decide

Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar

• Karnataka CM says state can't roll back Bengaluru Metro fare hike
• Metro fares set by a Union govt committee, not by state or BMRCL
• CM urges Centre to reconsider fare hike, citing commuter distress

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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on February 6 said state government has no authority to roll back the recent 5 percent Bengaluru Metro fare hike, reiterating that Metro fares are fixed by an independent committee constituted by the Union government.

While expressing concern over commuter distress, CM said he has formally taken up the issue with the Centre, urging it to reconsider and rationalise the revised fares.

Also, read: Bengaluru Metro fare hike ahead of civic polls triggers Congress-BJP blame game; commuters bear the brunt

In a detailed post on X, Siddaramaiah said Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and Karnataka government are legally bound by the recommendations of the Fare Fixation Committee under the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002. “As per Sections 36 and 37 of the Act, the committee’s recommendations are binding, leaving no legal authority with the state government or BMRCL to override them,” he said.

Calling the Metro a “lifeline for lakhs of working people, students and families,” the CM said he understood the anguish of commuters over the fare revision but accused the Opposition BJP of misleading the public by blaming the state government.

“Metro fares are not decided by the Karnataka government. The committee is constituted solely by the Government of India. Blaming the state is factually incorrect,” he said.

However, Siddaramaiah said affordability and inclusivity of public transport remained a priority for his government. He said he has urged the Union government to reconsider fare slabs, particularly for daily commuters, students and low-income groups, while balancing financial sustainability with social equity.

Also, read: Why Bengaluru Metro is enforcing annual fare hikes while Delhi resists, despite similar panel recommendations

The CM also took aim at BJP leaders, accusing them of failing to safeguard Karnataka’s interests at the Centre. “Why didn’t BJP MPs raise this issue forcefully in Parliament? Why didn’t BJP ministers oppose high fare slabs?” he asked, alleging that the fare hike was part of a broader pattern of discrimination against the state.

He linked the issue to what he described as reduced tax devolution, denial of fair grants and delayed infrastructure support from the BJP-led Union government.

“Karnataka will always stand with its people. We will engage firmly and constitutionally to protect the interests of Bengalureans,” Siddaramaiah said, adding that no fiscal, administrative or political injustice would go unanswered.

Bengaluru Metro fare hike has triggered widespread commuter backlash and sparked a political blame game between the ruling Congress in Karnataka and the BJP at the Centre.

Also, read: Bengaluru Metro fares to go up 5% from February 9, BMRCL kicks off annual revision