Bengaluru, Nov 4 (UNI) Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya on Tuesday raised serious concerns regarding the recent fare hike implemented by the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), calling it "unjustified and burdensome" for daily commuters.
During a review meeting earlier, Surya pointed out a major computational error in BMRCL's determination of the base year for maintenance and administrative (M&A) costs, which form the basis of the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) report.
The MP noted that while the FFC report should have considered M&A costs for 2017-18, BMRCL instead used data from 2016-17 when requesting the fare revision.
According to Surya, this incorrect calculation has led to inflated fares, causing commuters to pay an estimated Rs 150 crore in excess since the fare increase.
He further highlighted that while the overall average fare hike was 51.5 per cent, journeys commonly undertaken by commuters- particularly those in the 8-15 km range have seen fare increases approaching 70 per cent.
Comparing fares across other major Indian cities, the MP pointed out that similar metro journeys in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Nagpur cost approximately half of what commuters pay on Namma Metro for the same distance. "Such disparities indicate that the fare revision in Bengaluru lacks adequate justification," he said.
Surya urged BMRCL to immediately review and rectify the anomalies in fare fixation, ensuring commuters are not burdened by flawed calculations. He also requested a detailed explanation from BMRCL on how the error occurred and whether any corrective measures have been initiated to prevent recurrence.
BMRCL officials assured the MP that a formal response would be shared shortly, confirming that the matter is being examined internally.
The MP emphasised that public transport must remain affordable, transparent, and accountable. He warned that lapses like these erode public confidence in essential urban mobility systems such as Namma Metro. "Metro services are a lifeline for Bengaluru's daily commuters. It is imperative that fare structures reflect actual costs and do not place undue financial strain on citizens," he said.
The concerns raised by Surya come amid growing scrutiny over urban transport policies in Bengaluru, with citizens increasingly questioning fare hikes and operational transparency. This latest intervention is expected to put additional pressure on BMRCL to justify fare calculations and enhance accountability in the system.