Even as Bengaluru Metro users grapple with a steep fare hike of up to 71%, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has drawn fresh criticism for introducing paid access to public toilets at 12 key stations.

Toilets in the unpaid or public zones of stations like National College, Jayanagar, Cubbon Park, and Sir M Visvesvaraya Station have been handed over to Sulabh International. The organisation now charges ₹2 for urinals and ₹5 for toilet use.

A senior BMRCL official claimed the fee is meant to ensure better maintenance of these facilities, which are used by both commuters and the general public. However, the move has triggered public discontent and backlash from employees’ unions.

Suryanarayana Murthy, Vice-President of the BMRCL Employees’ Union, slammed the decision, saying, “The management splurges on unnecessary expenses. Fix the system’s leakages first—this isn’t commuter-friendly.”

BMRCL clarified that restrooms within the paid metro zones remain free for passengers with tokens or Metro cards and insisted the charges are not linked to the fare hike.

This development comes just months after the February fare revision that saw up to 100% increases on some routes and a new 5% surcharge during peak hours. As a result, daily ridership dropped by around 2.3 lakh—from 8.6 lakh to 6.3 lakh.

Despite softening the original hike, public resistance remains strong against the rising cost of commuting—and now, nature’s calls.