'Yes, we proposed the Namma Metro fare hike', CM calls for rollback

On Bengaluru metro’s fare hike, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said, "It's not the State Govt which increased the price. Yes, we proposed the price hike, but the decision was taken by the Central Committee, headed by the High Court justice." Following public outcry, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on February 14 directed the BMRCL to reduce fares where the increases were excessive. As per media report, Siddaramaiah had initially claimed that the state government had no control over the fare revision, as BMRCL operates as a joint venture between the Centre and the State. However, as pressures mounted he called a rollback on certain fares, calling the hike “abnormal”.

On Bengaluru metro’s fare hike, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah says, "It's not the State Govt which increased the price. Yes, we proposed the price hike, but the decision was taken by the Central Committee, headed by the High Court justice." pic.twitter.com/AVE6Q2CnfJ

— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2025

Meanwhile,Bengaluru police registered a first information report (FIR) against 16 individuals who participated in a protest against the recent fare hike by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and the state government. The protest, organised by members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), took place in front of Kempegowda Metro Station on Friday afternoon, following up to 100 per cent fare hikes of Namma Metro.On February 9, 2025, BMRCL announced increase in travel fares of Namma Metro, Bengaluru’s metro system.The fare adjustments include an increase in the maximum fare to Rs 90 from Rs 60, while the minimum fare for journeys covering the shortest distance (0-2 km) remained unchanged at Rs 10.In addition, discounts previously available to QR code users had been removed, with only smart card users receiving a reduced discount of 5 per cent.The minimum balance for smart cards were raised to Rs 90 from Rs 50, while off-peak travel during certain hours offers an additional 5 per cent discount.
This fare hike was the first in seven years for the city’s metro system. The BMRCL justified the fare revision by citing a report from the fare fixation committee (FFC), which was formed in 2024 by the Union government. The committee, led by a former High Court judge, recommended fare increases based on operational costs, feedback from passengers, and expert consultations.

(State Correspondent)