After Namma Metro fare hike jolt, CM Siddaramaiah asks Centre to reconsider move

The CM also sought reconstitution of the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) and asked that mechanisms be explored to rationalise the fares, especially for daily commuters, students and low-income groups, while examining policy options that balance financial sustainability with social equity.

Bengaluru: Three days before Namma Metro fares are to rise by 5%, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he had formally taken up the issue with the Union government, urging it to reconsider the hike.

He also sought reconstitution of the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) and asked that mechanisms be explored to rationalise the fares, especially for daily commuters, students and low-income groups, while examining policy options that balance financial sustainability with social equity.

Starting February 9, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) will raise the fares by Rs 1-5 across all 10 fare zones, under annual automatic revision recommended by the FFC. The minimum fare will be Rs 11 and the maximum Rs 95.

The hike will come exactly a year after the fares were increased by an average of 51.55% before discounts and 46.39% after discounts. The fare revision has been criticised by commuters as well as the Opposition.

Responding to the criticism, the chief minister said he fully understands the concern and anguish expressed by commuters, but it was important to know the truth, not political deception.

Under the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002, metro fares are determined by an independent FFC constituted solely by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Under Section 37, the FFC’s recommendations are binding on the metro administration and must be implemented. Neither the state nor Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) has the legal authority to override or disregard these recommendations, he noted.

“To now blame Karnataka for a decision legally imposed by the union framework is not just dishonest, it is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public,” he stated.

Stating that the state’s commitment to public welfare goes far beyond legal boundaries, Siddaramaiah said public transport must remain affordable, inclusive and supportive of everyday livelihoods. “Bengaluru’s growth must not come at the cost of commuters’ hardship,” he added.

The CM urged the opposition BJP to “rise above misinformation and stand together in the interest of the people of Karnataka.”

He accused BJP leaders of “staging dramas and shamelessly targeting” the state government. He demanded why the party’s MPs from Karnataka did not raise this issue forcefully in Parliament or oppose the high fares at the union level.