NEW DELHI: A social media post comparing the cost of metro and auto-rickshaw travel in Bengaluru has gained significant attention online, sparking discussions about the accessibility and cost-effectiveness of the city’s public transportation.

The viral post on X meticulously scrutinised the stark cost disparity between metro and auto-rickshaw fares along an identical route, specifically noting that a journey from Malleshwara to Yelachenahalli via metro transport for three passengers amounts to Rs 180, while traversing the same distance by auto-rickshaw with an equivalent number of travellers incurs a steeper fare of Rs 210.
The comprehensive fare comparison sparked considerable discourse amongst commuters regarding the economic viability and accessibility of different urban transport alternatives in the metropolitan corridor.
The trending post has generated extensive discussion online, with numerous individuals commenting and expressing diverse viewpoints on the subject matter.
One user wrote,” Metro to increase fare by 30/- after seeing this post to make it equal.”
Another user wrote,” But metro travels without traffic jam, it should be priced the right way but yeah present prices are bit pricey not very expensive though .”
“Metro has AC, is safer, and ensures timely arrival. But three people in an auto for long distances isn’t comfortable,” a user remarked.
“This is a good opportunity for electric autos. Karnataka government should work with auto driver unions to shift to electric autos, I assume there is already reduced rate card for electric autos which should help passengers,” a user wrote.
Namma Metro ridership drops following fare hike
Bengaluru’s Namma Metro has witnessed a significant drop in ridership following the fare revision in February. Data from the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) shows that average daily ridership fell by 13% after the fare hike was implemented on February 9.
Before the revision, the average daily ridership was around 8.2 lakh, but over the next 20 days, it dropped to 7.1 lakh—a decline of 13%.
On a month-on-month basis, February saw a 20% dip in ridership. In January, 2.5 crore passengers traveled on Namma Metro, whereas in February, the number plummeted to 2 crore.
While BMRCL stated that the average fare hike was 46%, passengers claimed that on some routes, the increase reached up to 110%.