Rising metro fares have forced many commuters to switch back to private transport, leading to a decline in daily ridership.
DH FILE PHOTO
Bengaluru: The Bangalore Metro and Suburban Rail Passengers Association has written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, seeking his intervention to make metro rides more affordable and improve last-mile connectivity options.
Thanking Siddaramaiah for his initial intervention, Prakash Mandoth, founder-president of the association, noted that fares place a heavy burden on commuters due to the recent revision.
“Many metro users have switched back to private transport, such as two-wheelers and four-wheelers, as it is cheaper and more economical than travelling by Namma Metro. This is evident from the declining daily ridership of Namma Metro,” he wrote.
He also mentioned that in multiple meetings with the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) MD, the association has repeatedly emphasised the need for comfortable and affordable last-mile connectivity options. Suggested affordable solutions include e-scooters, e-rickshaws (on share), and electric mini-buses.
Citizens’ convention
The Bangalore Metro Commuters’ Association (BMCA) will hold a citizens’ convention on Sunday. Prof Ashish Verma and Prof M N Sreehari will dissect the issue of metro fare hike and its impact with other speakers at the Bharat Scouts and Guides Auditorium near Maharani Science College Bengaluru at 11 am.