Bengaluru Namma Metro fares to be hiked by 20% amid backlash from commuters: Report

BMRCL's fare-fixing committee collected feedback from residents, revealing strong resistance to proposed fare hike amidst rising operational costs.

Published on: Nov 6, 2024, 12:34:35 IST

By Yamini C S

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Bengaluru's Namma Metro riders may soon face higher travel costs as the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) inches closer to finalizing a fare hike. The potential increase, aimed at covering growing operational expenses, has sparked significant public opposition, with many residents voicing discontent, a report said.

Bengaluru's Namma Metro fare hike prompts backlash from commuters.

For 25 days, between October 3 and October 28, the BMRCL’s fare-fixing committee collected public feedback on the proposed fare revision. The feedback, gathered from 28 respondents, revealed strong resistance to the planned hike, the report said.

Currently, metro fares range from ₹10 to ₹60, but under the new proposal, rates could rise by up to 20 per cent. This would raise the minimum fare to ₹15 and the maximum fare to ₹75, affecting the affordability of commuting on the metro’s popular purple and green lines, the publication noted. The proposed fare adjustment follows an earlier round of feedback that closed in August, which also saw widespread disapproval of a fare increase.

The BMRCL cites rising costs in running and maintaining the metro network as the primary reason behind the fare revision. As the city continues to rely on the metro as a major mass transportation option, officials argue that a fare hike is necessary to keep operations sustainable, the report added.

If approved, the new rates are expected to come into effect soon, adding a potential financial strain for daily commuters. Thousands of passengers who use the metro each day may feel the impact as their commuting costs rise, the report further stated.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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