Metro fare hike row: Tejasvi Surya meets commuters, confusion continues

As BMRCL prepares to roll out a 5% fare hike from February 9, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya claims a temporary halt, triggering sharp political debate and commuter uncertainty.

The controversy over Bengaluru Metro’s proposed 5% fare hike intensified on Sunday, with Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya holding a public interaction with commuters at the RV Road Metro station, even as BMRCL maintained that the revised fares would come into effect from February 9.

The fare revision, recommended by the Metro Fare Fixation Committee, had triggered political reactions and public debate. While BMRCL officially announced the hike, Tejasvi Surya stated that the fare increase has been temporarily stalled following directions from Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. However, BMRCL officials said they have not received any formal instructions from either the Centre or the state government and maintained that the revised fares will be implemented as scheduled.

This conflicting messaging has created widespread confusion among daily commuters. Many passengers said they were uncertain whether to follow the MP’s statement or the official BMRCL notification, with no clear order issued to withdraw the hike.

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During the interaction, Tejasvi Surya wore a T-shirt with slogans such as “Mr CM, cut the drama” and “#farehikebeda,” drawing attention to the issue. He listened to commuters’ grievances, including from a woman passenger who said her daily travel expenses exceed ₹250, combining bus, auto, and Metro fares, making daily commuting unaffordable.

Several students and working professionals expressed concern that repeated fare hikes are adding financial pressure. An intern said even small increases make daily travel difficult, while others pointed out that Metro fares for end-to-end travel now touch ₹90.

Tejasvi Surya alleged that the state government is responsible for the hike, accusing it of informing the Fare Fixation Committee that fares should be increased annually to reduce financial burden. He claimed that earlier governments provided “shadow cash support” to cover interest on loans, which prevented frequent hikes. According to him, the current government has stopped this support due to financial stress, forcing BMRCL to raise fares.

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On the other hand, BMRCL officials defended the decision, stating that regular fare revision is necessary to meet rising operational costs, staff salaries, maintenance expenses, and loan repayments. They argued that a yearly 5% hike would not heavily burden commuters and would ensure financial sustainability.

Despite political assurances, BMRCL reiterated that unless formal orders are received, the revised fares will be implemented from Monday. With both sides standing firm, the Metro fare issue has turned into a major political flashpoint, leaving nearly 10 to 12 lakh daily passengers anxious and uncertain.