Bengaluru: Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has written to the Union government seeking the constitution of a new Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) for Namma Metro, alleging that the revised fare calculation by Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) contains multiple errors and has led to steep and unfair fare increases for commuters.

In a letter addressed to Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar, Surya contended that the current fare revision framework is flawed and has made Bengaluru Metro one of the most expensive metro systems in the country. He requested that the Centre intervene, set up a fresh committee, and place the proposed annual fare hike on hold until anomalies are corrected.

Fare revision based on disputed methodology

MP Surya stated that the 2025 Fare Fixation Committee for Bengaluru Metro was constituted under Section 34 of the Metro Railway Operations and Maintenance Act, 2002. The panel recommended a fare revision for Namma Metro that came into effect from February 9, 2025.

According to him, the revised fares were calculated using a formula derived from the 2016 Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Fare Fixation Committee model. However, he argued that the application of this formula in Bengaluru’s case was faulty.

“The revision, ostensibly calculated on the basis of the 2016 DMRC Fare Fixation Committee’s formula, has resulted in an average increase of fares by 50 per cent and raised the maximum fare from Rs 60 to Rs 90. This has also made Bengaluru metro the most expensive in the country,” Surya said in his letter.

He claimed that a detailed reading of the FFC report revealed arithmetic and methodological errors that significantly impacted the final fare slabs.

Allegation of wrong base year selection

MP Surya pointed out that one of the core problems in the fare computation was the selection of an incorrect base year for calculating operating costs.

He said the committee used 2016–17 as the base year, which he described as inconsistent with standard fare revision methodology. This, he argued, caused distortions in cost projections and fare outcomes.

“These errors arise mainly due to the selection of the wrong base year of 2016–17 for the computation of the operating costs, resulting in a deviation from the standard fare revision methodology,” he said.

He further noted that these issues had been flagged multiple times through representations and in-person meetings, but BMRCL had not yet taken corrective action.

Objection to fresh annual fare hike

MP Surya also raised objections to a fresh annual fare revision announced by BMRCL on February 5, 2026, scheduled to take effect from February 9, 2026.

He said that earlier, based on a BMRCL request, the Fare Fixation Committee had allowed for an annual fare revision of up to 5 per cent to help the corporation manage operational and maintenance expenses.

However, he argued that the latest revision goes far beyond a modest correction. As per the new structure, fare slabs are set to increase by Rs 1 to Rs 15, with the maximum fare rising to Rs 195 for journeys above 25 km.

Surya warned that such a steep increase would impose a heavy burden on daily commuters, especially students, office-goers, and lower-income groups who depend on metro services for affordable urban transport.

Political heat over metro fares

Metro fare hikes have triggered political debate, with the Karnataka Congress government facing criticism from opposition leaders over rising commuter costs. While fare fixation committees are statutory and function independently, fare revisions often become politically sensitive due to their direct public impact.

Surya emphasised that regardless of the administrative process, commuters should not be made to pay for what he termed calculation mistakes and flawed assumptions.

Demand for new committee and pause order

In his letter, Surya urged the Union ministry to immediately constitute a new Fare Fixation Committee for Bengaluru Metro to review the calculations and rationalise fare slabs.

“I kindly request that a new Fare Fixation Committee be constituted for Bengaluru Metro to rectify the highlighted anomalies and rationalise the fares. I also request that the annual hike be put on hold until the fares are rationalised,” he said.

Conclusion

With metro ridership forming a critical part of Bengaluru’s urban mobility network, any fare revision has wide-reaching effects. The MP’s demand for a fresh review panel adds pressure on authorities to re-examine the methodology and transparency of fare calculations. A decision by the Union government on the request could determine whether the revised fare structure proceeds as planned or undergoes reassessment.