Bengaluru metro braces for another fare hike: 5% increase likely despite public anger

After a steep hike last year, BMRCL is preparing to raise Namma Metro ticket prices again, awaiting final approval from the Karnataka government.

Bengaluru’s metro commuters may soon feel another pinch in their daily travel expenses, as the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is actively preparing for a fresh ticket fare hike. Officials have held a series of internal meetings and have formally brought the proposal to the notice of the Karnataka government.

According to sources, BMRCL had initially planned to implement the revised fares from February 1, based on the recommendations of the fare revision committee. The committee has suggested a 5% increase in ticket prices, and the metro authority is now pushing to enforce it at the earliest, once the state government gives its approval.
This proposed hike comes barely a year after a massive 71% increase in metro ticket fares, which had already drawn strong criticism from commuters. If cleared, the new revision will result in a minimum increase of ₹1 and a maximum of ₹5 per ticket, depending on the distance travelled.

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To explain the impact, BMRCL has worked out examples for long-distance routes. A journey from Majestic to Whitefield, which currently costs ₹80, will go up to ₹84. The same increase applies to travel from Majestic to Bommasandra, also rising from ₹80 to ₹84. Similarly, the fare from Majestic to Challaghatta will increase from ₹60 to ₹63.

Officials argue that delaying the revision could lead to a bigger burden later. BMRCL has reportedly told the government that if the hike is not implemented this year, fares may have to be increased by 10% next year to balance operational costs.

However, the proposal has sparked sharp public backlash. Many commuters, especially from the middle class, have expressed anger, saying that rising prices across essentials have already stretched household budgets. Several fear that frequent fare hikes will discourage people from using the metro, leading to emptier trains instead of increased ridership.

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Despite strong opposition from the public, BMRCL remains firm on the revision and is now waiting for the state government’s green signal to roll out the new fares.