Amid growing public outrage over the steep increase in Bengaluru Metro fares, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday placed the blame on the Karnataka state government. Vaishnaw clarified that the fare fixation committee for the Metro Rail does not fall under the central government’s jurisdiction and urged citizens to address their concerns to the state administration.
During a press conference, Vaishnaw emphasized that the Karnataka government, being more familiar with local conditions, should take the lead in making decisions related to Metro projects. “Questions about the fare hike should be directed to the state Chief Minister,” he stated, further reiterating that fare proposals are determined by the state government and not by Delhi.
The controversy began when the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) announced a significant fare hike, doubling ticket prices to cover increased operational costs and loan repayments. A five percent fare increase during peak hours, akin to ride-hailing services, was also implemented.
In response to public dissatisfaction and protests, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah instructed BMRCL Managing Director M. Maheshwar Rao to revisit the fare structure. Consequently, BMRCL revised the fares, reducing the maximum hike from 100% to 71%. However, the base fare and highest ticket price remain unchanged at ₹10 and ₹90, respectively.
Despite the revised fares, many commuters continue to demand a full rollback, highlighting that metro travel has become prohibitively expensive. Opposition parties have organized protests, urging BMRCL to lower ticket prices further.
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