On Monday, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy called for the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) regarding the recent hike in Namma Metro fares. Reddy emphasized that it was the Centre’s responsibility, especially given that the Fare Fixation Committee, whose recommendations are binding on the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), was set up by the Centre.
The fare hike, implemented on February 9, saw an average increase of 51.55% before discounts and 46.39% after discounts, with some routes experiencing a 100% fare rise. In response, BMRCL recalibrated fare combinations, reducing the hike to a minimum of 33% and a maximum of 71.43%.
Reddy countered Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s statement that the state government was responsible for the fare hike. He clarified that the committee’s report is submitted to the metro board, chaired by the MoHUA secretary, and not the state government. Reddy accused BJP leaders of spreading misinformation and misguiding the public, calling them “a bunch of liars.”
Despite concerns, Reddy assured that metro ridership remained stable, though official data revealed an increase in BMTC ridership from February 3 to February 10. Reddy also mentioned proposals for 7,000 new electric buses for BMTC but declined to comment on the recent auto fare hike. Passenger groups have raised concerns over falling ridership and called for affordable fares.
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