Centre puts Bengaluru Metro fare revision on hold after MP’s intervention

Bengaluru

The Central government has stepped in to temporarily halt a proposed revision of Bengaluru Metro fares, offering short-term relief to thousands of daily commuters. 

The decision follows an intervention by Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, who raised concerns over a fresh increase barely months after a steep hike was implemented.

Surya said he spoke to Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar, highlighting the burden a second fare revision would place on commuters. According to the MP, the Union Minister has instructed officials to pause any move toward implementing the proposed increase.

Addressing reporters, Surya pointed out that Metro fares in Bengaluru were nearly doubled less than a year ago, making it the most expensive metro system in the country. He argued that another hike so soon would be unjustified and unsustainable for regular users of public transport.

The MP also blamed the state government’s financial condition for the renewed proposal, alleging that fare revisions are driven by fiscal pressure rather than operational necessity. He claimed past proceedings of the Fare Fixation Committee indicate that such decisions are initiated at the state’s request.

“The state government is struggling to fund Metro operations due to weak finances caused by excessive populist spending,” Surya said.

The proposed fare revision, announced earlier by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), was scheduled to take effect from February 9. It involved a zone-based adjustment under the automatic fare revision mechanism, with ticket prices set to increase by ₹1 to ₹5 depending on travel distance across 10 zones.

With the Centre’s directive, the fare revision process has been put on hold for now, providing temporary respite to commuters. However, officials have indicated that the issue may be revisited at a later stage, depending on financial and operational considerations.