Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has called for an urgent reassessment of the recent sharp increase in Bengaluru’s Namma Metro fares. Expressing concern over the disproportionate rise in ticket prices, he instructed Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials to rectify the inconsistencies. “Some sections have seen fares more than double. I have asked the MD to correct these irregularities and reduce excessively high charges,” he stated on X.
The revised fare structure, implemented on Monday, has drawn widespread criticism, particularly from office-goers and students who now struggle with higher travel costs. Social media erupted with demands for a rollback, as many commuters argued that the surge far exceeded the initially proposed 47% hike. For example, passengers on the SV Road-Pattandur Agrahara route saw their ticket price soar from ₹33.50 to ₹60, pushing round-trip expenses beyond ₹120.
Many fear the excessive pricing will deter people from using public transport, worsening Bengaluru’s traffic congestion. Some, like commuter Charan Raj, noted that private vehicles now seem more economical, undermining Metro’s environmental advantages.
While Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy distanced the state government from the decision, opposition leaders accused it of supporting the hike. Meanwhile, Metro ridership has already dipped, with BMRCL reporting a 40,000-passenger drop within days of the increase.
With no student concessions, lower-income groups are shifting to BMTC buses, raising concerns over the long-term impact on Bengaluru’s public transit system.
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