desk
Share
News Topical, Digital Desk : The planned Namma Metro fare hike in Bengaluru has been put on hold. Amid widespread public opposition and heated rhetoric, the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has decided to postpone its decision. The new fares, announced on February 5th and scheduled to be implemented from February 9th, will now be reviewed by the board.
What was the proposed fare plan?
BMRCL had planned to divide the 96.10-kilometer-long Namma Metro network into 10 zones and increase fares by between ₹1 and ₹5. Fares up to 2 kilometers were to be increased from ₹10 to ₹11. Fares over 30 kilometers were to be charged at ₹95 instead of ₹90. For 15-20 kilometers, fares were to be charged at ₹74 instead of ₹70.
Additionally, tourist passes and group tickets were also proposed to be increased by up to 5%, while smart card concessions (5% during peak hours and 10% during non-peak hours) were retained.
Counter charges
The decision to increase fares has ignited a political uproar in Karnataka. A war of words between the BJP and the Congress intensified. State Minister Priyank Kharge accused the BJP of double standards. He said that PM Modi takes credit for the metro expansion, but the state government is blamed for the fare hike. He clarified that the Fare Fixation Committee (FFFC) is appointed by the central government and its decisions are binding.
Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya called the moratorium a victory for the people. He criticized the Congress government, saying that due to mismanagement, the state government had stopped providing subsidies, making the Bengaluru Metro the most expensive in the country. He demanded a new committee to set fares scientifically.
Why did the prices increase?
BMRCL argued that rising operating costs necessitated a gradual fare increase, avoiding a large burden on passengers. However, experts believe the state government's financial situation and subsidy cuts also forced the Metro administration to take this step.
--Advertisement--
