Bengaluru:
The controversy over Namma Metro’s steep fare hike has reignited, with Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya alleging major discrepancies in the fare fixation committee (FFC) report released by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). In a letter addressed to the BMRCL managing director, the MP urged the corporation to “correct the discrepancies” in the fare revision and ensure fairness in commuter pricing.

BMRCL had initially increased Metro fares by over 110% on February 9 this year but later rolled back the hike to a maximum of 71% following strong public backlash. The revision has nevertheless made Namma Metro one of the most expensive urban transit systems in India.

MP questions FFC calculations and logic

Tejasvi Surya, who has consistently raised commuter welfare issues, criticised both the BMRCL and the FFC for allegedly using flawed calculations. “BMRCL implemented an illogical fare increase of 105%, which is not in consonance with the FFC recommendation. The actual fare increase should be around 50–55% with the correct application of the formula provided by FFC,” he said in the letter.

Surya claimed the corporation inflated its financial data to justify the fare hike, stating that BMRCL had shown a 366% rise in maintenance and administrative costs, whereas the actual increase should have been only 118.5%.

He further alleged that the fare fixation committee failed to justify the average increase it recommended. “The committee merely observed that a 105% increase was on the higher side and proposed an average increase of 51.5% without recording valid reasons for this magical number,” he added.

Fare hike sparks commuter frustration

The fare hike, even after partial reduction, has led to widespread discontent among Bengaluru commuters. Surya said the move had placed an unfair burden on daily passengers, particularly office-goers and students who rely on the Metro as an affordable alternative to road transport.

“The failure to ensure a fair and affordable fare structure has burdened lakhs of commuters,” Surya stated. According to his calculations, fares on some of the city’s busiest routes have gone up by as much as 82%.

In comparison, Delhi Metro’s most recent fare revision in August averaged just 7%, he said, highlighting the stark difference in approach between the two systems.

BMRCL maintains silence as criticism mounts

When contacted, BMRCL officials declined to comment on the MP’s letter or the alleged discrepancies in the FFC report. Sources indicated that internal reviews of the fare revision had already been completed before the report’s public release.

However, Surya’s allegations have reignited debate over transparency and accountability in fare setting. Several civic activists and passenger associations have supported the MP’s demand for a review, arguing that public consultation was insufficient before implementing such a steep hike.

Transport experts have also pointed out that while cost escalations due to inflation and expansion projects are inevitable, fare adjustments must be gradual and well-explained to the public. A sudden increase, they said, risks undermining public trust and reducing ridership — a concern BMRCL can ill afford amid ongoing phase expansions.

A call for transparency and revision

Tejasvi Surya has requested BMRCL to issue a revised fare structure based on “accurate and transparent” application of the FFC formula. He has also urged the corporation to make the detailed financial basis of the fare calculation public to maintain credibility.

With commuter pressure building and opposition parties criticising the hike, the issue is expected to be discussed at the next state-level review meeting on urban transport. Whether BMRCL will revisit its fare decision remains to be seen, but the controversy has once again highlighted the challenge of balancing financial sustainability with commuter affordability.