MP P C Mohan, commuters criticise Bengaluru metro's 40-45% fare hike plan

Bengaluru: Bangalore Central MP, P C Mohan has joined commuters in criticising the 40-45 per cent fare hike and urged Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to reconsider it.

The hike was recommended by a three-member fare fixation committee, whose recommendations are binding on the BMRCL board under Section 37 of the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2022.

(DH was the first to report the development.)

The fare hike — the first since June 2017 — may come into effect by the end of January. The BMRCL, which earns over Rs 2 crore daily, expects to make another Rs 80-90 lakh.

Mohan met BMRCL Managing Director M Maheshwar Rao on Monday and highlighted the potential "adverse" effects of this "steep increase" on commuters.

In a letter to Rao, the BJP parliamentarian acknowledged the operational challenges faced by the BMRCL but warned that the fare hike, combined with the recent bus fare increase, could push commuters towards private vehicles.

"Bengaluru is already the most-congested city in Asia. To address this crisis, we must prioritise public transport and incentivise its use, especially at a time when people are gradually adapting to it," he wrote.

Mohan cited Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, which offers a 50 per cent discount on fares for commuters who tap in before 7.45 am on weekdays (excluding public holidays) and free travel for commuters exiting from 16 designated stations before 7.45 am.

He urged the BMRCL to consider similar initiatives. Mohan proposed exploring non-fare revenue models, such as advertising, retail spaces and efficient management of parking facilities.

"The BMRCL should have a marketing team to increase non-fare revenue," he told DH.

Mohan feared that the fare hike might result in a 30 per cent drop in daily ridership, which hovers around 8-9 lakh.

While Rao declined to comment on the issue, a highly placed source insisted that the committee's recommendations were mandatory. In 2016, the Delhi metro implemented the recommendations of its fourth fare fixation committee by increasing fares by 106 per cent, the source note.

While the BMRCL board is scheduled to meet on January 17 to discuss the report, the source said that would be a "mere formality". "There is no other option. The BMRCL's annual loan and interest payments are over Rs 800 crore," the source explained.

The fare hike has drawn criticism from commuters.

A user on X pointed out that the fare increase would not make sense without increasing train frequency.

M D Nowsath, another social media user, said that personal cars would be more reasonable than the metro, which faces issues of poor last-mile connectivity, low frequency and overcrowding.

"My car is available on my doorstep and costs almost the same," he wrote.

Another individual named Dabir said that he would have to shell out Rs 116 as against Rs 80 for a round trip when using the metro and felt that car-pooling would be better.