Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has approached the Karnataka High Court, alleging that the state administration and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) deliberately withheld the Metro Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) report, which recommended substantial ticket price hikes. Surya announced on Sunday that his writ petition will be heard on Monday.
Terming the government’s conduct “opaque and arbitrary,” Surya questioned the secrecy around the FFC findings. He criticised the committee for issuing sweeping recommendations and embarking on overseas study tours funded by taxpayers without ensuring public disclosure. “Metro systems across India, including Delhi, have made their FFC reports accessible. Why is Bengaluru an outlier? What is being concealed?” he demanded.
Surya also highlighted that the steep fare rise has caused a notable decline in Metro usage, placing Namma Metro among the costliest public transport options in the country. “This pricing is out of reach for many middle-class citizens,” he asserted.
Targeting the Congress-led government, the BJP MP asked why Chief Minister Siddaramaiah continues to withhold the document despite no legal or security barriers. “Affordable, dependable, and transparent public transport is a fundamental right for the people who pay for and depend on it,” Surya emphasised.
He described his legal action as an effort to uphold openness and equity. “I will persist until Bengaluru becomes a benchmark for public transport nationwide,” he concluded.
During a protest on Saturday over delays in operationalising the Yellow Line, Surya had similarly demanded BMRCL release the FFC report, asserting citizens deserve clarity behind fare decisions.