The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) on Sunday announced that the proposed annual metro fare revision, scheduled to take effect from February 9, has been put on hold amid an intensifying political tussle between the Karnataka government and the Centre. The decision comes after widespread criticism from commuters and sharp exchanges among political parties over responsibility for the fare hike.
In an official statement, BMRCL said its February 5 media release announcing the revised fare structure would not be implemented until further orders. The corporation clarified that the matter would be placed before the BMRCL board for review before any final decision is taken. It added that commuters would be informed once the board concludes its deliberations.
The proposed revision involved a 5 per cent annual increase, translating into a hike of approximately ₹1 to ₹5 across different fare slabs. The announcement triggered public discontent and political reactions, with opposition parties accusing the state government of pushing the hike while blaming the Centre. The issue has since become a flashpoint in the ongoing state–Centre political confrontation.
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On Sunday, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya interacted with metro commuters at RV Road Metro Station to gather feedback on the proposed hike. He later claimed that passengers were unhappy with frequent fare revisions and accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar of misleading the public by attributing the hike to the Centre. Surya also demanded the constitution of a new Fare Fixation Committee, alleging irregularities in the existing panel’s calculations.
Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy also blamed the state government, alleging it was proceeding with the hike despite the Centre advising against it. The Congress, however, rejected these allegations, maintaining that fare decisions are made by a Fare Fixation Committee under the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002, and not by the state government. Reiterating its position, BMRCL said commuter interest remains its priority and affirmed its commitment to providing safe, reliable, and affordable metro services in Bengaluru.
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