After nearly eight years, Namma Metro is preparing to implement a significant fare hike of 40-45%, following the recommendations of a three-member government panel. The fare fixation committee, established for the first time by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), included Justice (retired) R Tharani, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Additional Secretary Satinder Pal Singh, and retired Karnataka IAS officer EV Ramana Reddy. Public feedback was solicited from October 2 to 28, 2024, and the final report was submitted to the BMRCL board in mid-December 2024.
The committee’s recommendation suggests a base fare increase to around Rs 15, with the maximum fare rising to Rs 85, up from the current Rs 60. To mitigate the impact, discounts will be available during off-peak hours and Sundays, with a 5% discount for passengers using smartcards and QR code tickets. The revised fares are expected to come into effect by the end of January 2025.
This fare revision follows a similar pattern to the 2017 Delhi Metro fare hike, which was based on a similar fare fixation committee’s recommendations. The BMRCL has seen a significant expansion since the last fare revision in 2017, from 43.2 km to 76.95 km, with further expansion expected by 2026. As operational costs have risen, including increased electricity and maintenance expenses, the fare hike aims to address the rising financial pressure on the metro system.
While the fare increase is expected to face criticism, especially after the recent 15% bus fare hike, BMRCL sources argue that the cumulative impact could have been less severe if fares had been revised annually. Despite the hike, BMRCL will still struggle to fully repay loans without state support. The sources emphasize that the higher fare increase is justified by the extensive infrastructure and services required for metro operations.
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