Namma Metro ridership rebounding to pre-fare hike levels

Bengaluru: Contrary to popular belief, Namma Metro's average daily ridership is on the rise and has nearly returned to pre-fare hike levels, according to data reviewed by DH. 

In his writ petition filed earlier this month seeking the release of the fare fixation committee's report, Bangalore South MP LS Tejasvi Surya claimed that ridership had dropped significantly since the fare hike.  

However, this isn't fully borne out by the data. 

While ridership did take a hit after the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) increased fares last February, it has nearly rebounded now. 

The average hike before discounts was 51.5% and after discounts 46.39%. The BMRCL capped the maximum hike to 71.43%. 

Average daily ridership, which was 8.03 lakh in January, slumped to 7.49 lakh in February and then to 7.24 lakh in March, the first full month after the fare hike. 

Ridership recovered slightly in April with 7.62 lakh passengers taking the metro per day on average. In May, this number was 7.56 lakh. 

BMRCL officials say the situation further improved in June, as metro trains ferried 7,89,731 passengers per day on average last month. 

"The impact of the fare hike has nearly withered away. Our ridership is now back to previous levels. On weekdays, we are seeing 8.5 lakh passengers or more," a senior BMRCL official said. 

With the 19.15-km Yellow Line (RV Road to Bommasandra) scheduled to open with three trains in August, daily ridership is expected to increase by 25,000 initially. 

The BMRCL estimates that ridership will soar to 14 lakh once the Yellow Line becomes fully operational next year. 

Tracking patronage 

Daily average: 7,89,731 

Weekday average: 8.51 lakh

June 2-6: 8.59 lakh

June 9-13: 8.43 lakh 

June 16-20: 8.53 lakh 

June 23-27: 8.52 lakh