On Monday, the Karnataka High Court ordered the state government, Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), and the Union government to reply within two weeks to a petition seeking disclosure of a crucial report that justified the recent metro fare increase, Indian Express reported.
Filed by Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya, the plea argues that passengers have a right to access the Fare Fixation Committee’s (FFC) findings, which were submitted in December 2024 but never released. The committee, led by ex-judge R Tharani, analyzed fare frameworks in cities such as Singapore and Hong Kong before recommending hikes.
In February, BMRCL raised the maximum fare from ₹60 to ₹90, briefly making Namma Metro India’s priciest. After backlash, including criticism from lawmakers, BMRCL partially rolled back the hike days later, capping the increase at 71%.
Surya’s counsel told the court that despite repeated requests in April and May, BMRCL has withheld the report, citing pending government approval. Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav questioned why even an MP could not access it.
On X, Surya condemned the lack of transparency, asserting, “The public deserves to see this report—court intervention should not be necessary.” Bengaluru Central MP P C Mohan supported the demand, adding that commuters deserve clarity on fare policies.
The petition also notes that metros in Mumbai and Hyderabad have publicly shared similar documents, reinforcing the principle of accountability in public transport pricing.