<p>Bengaluru: Namma Metro fares will increase by 40-45 per cent after the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) board on Friday approved the recommendations of a government committee in toto, authoritative sources said.</p><p>Additional details, including when the fare hike will take effect, will be announced in the coming days.</p><p>The current fare is Rs 10-60. While the base fare will not change drastically, the maximum fare will be capped at Rs 85. </p><p>The BMRCL, whose fare revenue currently stands at over Rs 2 crore per day, expects to earn an additional Rs 80-90 lakh after the fare hike. </p>.New look, more platforms for KSR Bengaluru; two new terminals for city.<p>The fare hike — the first for Namma Metro since June 2017 — was based on the recommendation by a three-member Fare Fixation Committee under Justice (retired) R Tharani. </p><p>The committee evaluated several factors before recommending the 40-45 per cent fare increase. <em>DH</em> was the first to report the development.</p>.<p>A highly placed government source confirmed that the fare hike had been approved in toto, as mandated by Section 37 of the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002.</p><p>Bangalore Central MP, P C Mohan, also confirmed this but added that the base fare would not be increased significantly. According to him, the 40-45 per cent increase will mainly apply to journeys beyond the minimum distance.</p><p>To reduce the impact, the BMRCL will offer a 5 per cent discount during off-peak hours, Sundays and three national holidays (January 26, August 15 and October 2). Passengers using smartcards and QR code tickets will continue to enjoy a 5 per cent discount.</p><p>The Namma Metro network, which currently stands at 76.95 km, serves over eight lakh passengers per day on average.</p><p>While the BMRCL achieved profit after interest in 2022-23 and 2023-24, its annual loan and interest payments currently stand at Rs 800 crore. These will go further up to Rs 1,300 to 1,500 crore in the next two years because Phase 2 loans will also become due, according to a senior official in the know. </p><p>In 2023-24, the BMRCL's total revenue (fare and non-fare) stood at Rs 990.02 crore, while it had a net loss of Rs 349.07 crore. </p><p>Operational losses and loan repayments are also borne solely by BMRCL. The Centre does not provide any support for these and the state government chips in only if the BMRCL is unable to manage these expenses. </p><p>The government source pointed out that Karnataka's final contribution to Namma Metro was 65 per cent and the Centre's 35 per cent. </p><p>"Besides equity, we also provide funds for land acquisition and cash losses," the source said. </p><p>The metro network will expand to 175.55 km by December 2026 with the completion of Phases 2, 2A and 2B.</p><p>The fare hike has drawn criticism from passengers already burdened by the 15 per cent increase in bus fares.</p><p>Mohan, the parliamentarian, expressed his disappointment, while mobility experts and public transport activists want the government to support the BMRCL. </p>
<p>Bengaluru: Namma Metro fares will increase by 40-45 per cent after the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) board on Friday approved the recommendations of a government committee in toto, authoritative sources said.</p><p>Additional details, including when the fare hike will take effect, will be announced in the coming days.</p><p>The current fare is Rs 10-60. While the base fare will not change drastically, the maximum fare will be capped at Rs 85. </p><p>The BMRCL, whose fare revenue currently stands at over Rs 2 crore per day, expects to earn an additional Rs 80-90 lakh after the fare hike. </p>.New look, more platforms for KSR Bengaluru; two new terminals for city.<p>The fare hike — the first for Namma Metro since June 2017 — was based on the recommendation by a three-member Fare Fixation Committee under Justice (retired) R Tharani. </p><p>The committee evaluated several factors before recommending the 40-45 per cent fare increase. <em>DH</em> was the first to report the development.</p>.<p>A highly placed government source confirmed that the fare hike had been approved in toto, as mandated by Section 37 of the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002.</p><p>Bangalore Central MP, P C Mohan, also confirmed this but added that the base fare would not be increased significantly. According to him, the 40-45 per cent increase will mainly apply to journeys beyond the minimum distance.</p><p>To reduce the impact, the BMRCL will offer a 5 per cent discount during off-peak hours, Sundays and three national holidays (January 26, August 15 and October 2). Passengers using smartcards and QR code tickets will continue to enjoy a 5 per cent discount.</p><p>The Namma Metro network, which currently stands at 76.95 km, serves over eight lakh passengers per day on average.</p><p>While the BMRCL achieved profit after interest in 2022-23 and 2023-24, its annual loan and interest payments currently stand at Rs 800 crore. These will go further up to Rs 1,300 to 1,500 crore in the next two years because Phase 2 loans will also become due, according to a senior official in the know. </p><p>In 2023-24, the BMRCL's total revenue (fare and non-fare) stood at Rs 990.02 crore, while it had a net loss of Rs 349.07 crore. </p><p>Operational losses and loan repayments are also borne solely by BMRCL. The Centre does not provide any support for these and the state government chips in only if the BMRCL is unable to manage these expenses. </p><p>The government source pointed out that Karnataka's final contribution to Namma Metro was 65 per cent and the Centre's 35 per cent. </p><p>"Besides equity, we also provide funds for land acquisition and cash losses," the source said. </p><p>The metro network will expand to 175.55 km by December 2026 with the completion of Phases 2, 2A and 2B.</p><p>The fare hike has drawn criticism from passengers already burdened by the 15 per cent increase in bus fares.</p><p>Mohan, the parliamentarian, expressed his disappointment, while mobility experts and public transport activists want the government to support the BMRCL. </p>