BMRCL suspends planned 5% fare hike

BMRCL has suspended its planned 5% metro fare hike from February 9 after Centre’s directive

Bengaluru commuters can breathe a sigh of relief as the proposed 5% fare hike on Namma Metro services, scheduled to take effect from February 9, has been temporarily suspended. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) announced the decision in a media release, clarifying that the automatic annual fare revision will not be implemented until further orders.

The move follows instructions from the Union government. Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar reportedly communicated the directive to BMRCL’s Managing Director via email, asking the corporation to hold off on the hike. Earlier, BMRCL had stated that it had not received any written communication, but the official email has now confirmed the Centre’s stance.

The fare increase had sparked public outrage, with many commuters voicing concerns over affordability. Bengaluru South MP Tejaswi Surya also opposed the hike, urging the Centre to intervene. Responding to the growing criticism, the government instructed BMRCL to suspend the decision, pending a review by its Board of Directors.

In its statement, BMRCL emphasized its commitment to providing safe, reliable, and affordable metro services to the city’s residents. Officials noted that while the fare revision was part of an automatic annual adjustment mechanism, the final decision will now be taken after a detailed review.

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For now, metro fares will remain unchanged, offering temporary relief to thousands of daily commuters. The suspension highlights the balancing act between maintaining financial sustainability for the metro system and ensuring affordability for the public. The Board’s upcoming review will determine whether the hike is implemented later or permanently shelved.

This development underscores the growing sensitivity around urban transport costs in Bengaluru, where rising living expenses have already placed pressure on households. For metro users, the pause on fare hikes is a welcome reprieve, though uncertainty remains over future revisions.

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