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

Bengaluru Metro

The Congress-led Karnataka government is under fire after the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) implemented a steep fare hike on February 9, increasing the maximum fare from Rs 60 to Rs 90, a 50 percent increase.

Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has criticised the hike, stating that the increase, coupled with rising bus fares, puts an additional financial burden on commuters and discourages the use of public transport. Meanwhile, netizens have launched a #RevokeMetroFareHike campaign on social media, demanding a rollback.

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

Karnataka Govt, instead of incentivising public transport and discouraging private vehicles, is doing the exact opposite with the Metro Fare Hike.
Bengaluru metro fares should be at par with other metros in the country.While commuters in Delhi pay 30 for a 12 km ride, pic.twitter.com/WDvguMuSVS Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) February 9, 2025

Public anger over the fare hike is growing on social media with netizens launching a #RevokeMetroFareHike campaign on social media. Bangalore Metro Updates (@WF_Watcher) wrote on X that BMRCL must revoke the abnormal metro fare hike and adjust it to a reasonable, affordable level so that no one feels burdened.

Please #RevokeMetroFareHikeRevoke the abnormal Metro fare hike and adjust it to a reasonable and affordable level so that no one feels the burden of paying more!! @siddaramaiah @DKShivakumar @MBPatil @OfficialBMRCL @PriyankKharge @Tejasvi_Surya @PCMohanMP @ChristinMP_ https://t.co/tObIFUBnaI Bangalore Metro Updates (@WF_Watcher) February 9, 2025

Another user, Manu (@manukapoor1), shared a personal experience, saying he frequently travels from South End Circle to Sampige Road. He posted screenshots showing that on December 28, three passengers paid Rs 62.7, while the same trip today costs Rs 120—an increase of 91.4 percent. Calling the hike a tragedy, he questioned the logic behind such a steep increase.

Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan has also criticised the fare hike and called for the introduction of travel passes to ease the financial strain on commuters. He said BMRCL must introduce monthly, quarterly, and annual passes to make public transport more affordable. Such passes, he added, would encourage metro usage, reward loyalty with discounts, and provide BMRCL with low-cost working capital. Weekend ridership would also increase, boosting overall patronage.

BMRCLs fare hike is an unfair burden on Bengalurus commuters, forcing many toward private vehicles and worsening congestion. What justifies this steep increase? Public transport must be affordable. BMRCL must ensure transparency; publish the Fare Fixation Committee report. pic.twitter.com/qDuU3iEMaf
P C Mohan (@PCMohanMP) February 8, 2025

Surya said the Karnataka government, instead of incentivising public transport and discouraging private vehicle use, is doing the exact opposite by increasing metro fares.

Surya said Bengaluru metro fares should be on par with other metro cities. “While commuters in Delhi pay Rs 30 for a 12-kilometer ride, Bengaluru commuters will have to pay Rs 60—double the amount. He called the 50 percent fare hike, which increased the maximum fare from Rs 60 to Rs 90, totally unjustified.

Surya further stated that the hike in bus fares, coupled with a significant metro fare increase, puts an unnecessary burden on people’s wallets and discourages the use of public transport. He said no other metro in the country charges such high fares, as fares elsewhere do not exceed Rs 60.

Calling the hike extremely steep, he urged BMRCL to reconsider the fare revision and explore alternative revenue sources instead. He said BMRCL should look at increasing non-fare revenue through advertisements and commercial leasing, following best practices from other metros. This, he said, is the only way to align Bengaluru’s fare structure with other cities without overburdening commuters.

BJP Karnataka unit has also lashed out at the Congress-led state government over the fare hike. In a post on X, BJP Karnataka accused the Congress government of burdening the public with expensive commutes. The post said that Namma Metro's maximum fare was hiked from Rs 60 to Rs 90, bus fares had already gone up by 15 percent in January, and fewer buses were making commuting more difficult. The party alleged that Congress was anti-poor and, instead of improving public transport, was looting the middle class and the poor. Calling Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s governance pathetic, the BJP said the fare hike was burning holes in people’s pockets and demanded his resignation.

Also, read: Bengaluru Metro fare hike: Maximum fare up from Rs 60 to Rs 90