<p>Bengaluru: The Bangalore Metro Commuters’ Association (BMCA) on Saturday staged a protest against the metro fare hike and urged its complete rollback.</p><p>In a memorandum that the association plans to submit to the Namma Metro managing director, the association emphasised that the hike will further compound the severe economic hardships faced by middle-class and lower middle-class individuals, and also students, who are regular metro takers. </p><p>The memorandum cautioned that this will force commuters to reconsider using two-wheelers. </p>.Is Metro fare hike unfair?.<p>“Students who commute daily between home and college, many of whom rely on scholarship funds to continue their studies, are now forced to explore alternative means of transport,” the memorandum said. </p><p>Ironically, one of the primary objectives of introducing the metro was to reduce traffic congestion in the city. </p><p>The protestors said public services should not be a profit-making enterprise stressing that the hike is “anti-people”. </p><p>A commuter Eldo, said, “I am a worker. I am worried about my future. Already, the prices of essential commodities, such as rice and cooking oil, have skyrocketed. Now, if the transport cost is increased by a 100%, what will happen to us? This is like scratching a wound. It is like scratching a wound mentally also. Our metro is showing a deceitful attitude in the name of ‘Namma’.” </p><p>Rajesh Bhat, a protest leader, said, “This is public transport.. The metro fare hike should be withdrawn immediately. Otherwise, the people of Bengaluru will launch a movement called ‘Boycott Metro’ and BMRCL will have to face its consequences. This is the beginning of the struggle. This is going to get stronger. This anti-poor and anti-people policy should be stopped immediately.” </p>.<p>Protestors also stressed that this approach of BMRCL “lacked” transparency. </p>.<p>The memorandum asked the BMRCL to invite representatives of the public and like-minded organisations for an open discussion, and bring out a white paper detailing Namma Metro’s income from all sources and its expenditures. Until then, the fare hike should be put on hold, it said. </p>
<p>Bengaluru: The Bangalore Metro Commuters’ Association (BMCA) on Saturday staged a protest against the metro fare hike and urged its complete rollback.</p><p>In a memorandum that the association plans to submit to the Namma Metro managing director, the association emphasised that the hike will further compound the severe economic hardships faced by middle-class and lower middle-class individuals, and also students, who are regular metro takers. </p><p>The memorandum cautioned that this will force commuters to reconsider using two-wheelers. </p>.Is Metro fare hike unfair?.<p>“Students who commute daily between home and college, many of whom rely on scholarship funds to continue their studies, are now forced to explore alternative means of transport,” the memorandum said. </p><p>Ironically, one of the primary objectives of introducing the metro was to reduce traffic congestion in the city. </p><p>The protestors said public services should not be a profit-making enterprise stressing that the hike is “anti-people”. </p><p>A commuter Eldo, said, “I am a worker. I am worried about my future. Already, the prices of essential commodities, such as rice and cooking oil, have skyrocketed. Now, if the transport cost is increased by a 100%, what will happen to us? This is like scratching a wound. It is like scratching a wound mentally also. Our metro is showing a deceitful attitude in the name of ‘Namma’.” </p><p>Rajesh Bhat, a protest leader, said, “This is public transport.. The metro fare hike should be withdrawn immediately. Otherwise, the people of Bengaluru will launch a movement called ‘Boycott Metro’ and BMRCL will have to face its consequences. This is the beginning of the struggle. This is going to get stronger. This anti-poor and anti-people policy should be stopped immediately.” </p>.<p>Protestors also stressed that this approach of BMRCL “lacked” transparency. </p>.<p>The memorandum asked the BMRCL to invite representatives of the public and like-minded organisations for an open discussion, and bring out a white paper detailing Namma Metro’s income from all sources and its expenditures. Until then, the fare hike should be put on hold, it said. </p>
