Bengaluru: Regular commuters taking Namma Metro on Monday, the first working day after the increase in fares came into effect a day earlier, expressed strong disapproval over what they said was a steep hike.
They described BMRCL’s decision as one that would discourage people from using public transport in the city, where traffic congestion is only worsening. Social media users launched a campaign, demanding rollback of the hike.
‘Doubled, Not 47%’
Many office-goers complained they paid double the fare to travel, and BMRCL’s 47% hike claim was eyewash. Rajkumar, who commutes from SV Road to Pattandur Agrahara, said his earlier fare was Rs 33.50 but on Monday it was Rs 60. “A round trip cost me Rs 120. I pay another Rs 60 for parking. BMRCL should immediately roll back the steep hike.”
Average Metro passengers travel 12-13km and pay Rs 27-28. Now, the fare for 10-15-km travel is Rs 60.
‘This is loot’
Kushi M, a regular passenger, said, “Byppanahalli-MG Road fare was Rs 20, and now it is Rs 40. This is loot. There is no increase in frequency, no increase in cars/trains, no new routes. What is the justification for this hike? Countries across the world are making public transport cheaper, but Karnataka has different ideas.”
Charan Raj, another commuter, said, “The fare has increased by 88% for my trip. It makes no sense in paying so much when I can peacefully take my own vehicle. This hike will definitely push short-distance commuters into preferring their own vehicle.”
Responding to complaints on social media, BMRCL chief PRO BL Yeshwanth Chavan said, “We are looking into them. If there are issues in the system, we will address them.”
Second story
State mins, BJP MPs in blame game
Congress ministers from Karnataka and BJP MPs from Bengaluru traded words over the Metro fare hike.
Blaming the Centre for it, state transport minister Ramalinga Reddy said, “Karnataka has no role in the fare hike. As per the Metro Act, a committee will look into fare revision and it’ll be presented before the Metro board. The board is presided over by the secretary of Union ministry of housing and urban development, and the secretary finalises the fares.”
But Union minister of state for MSME, labour and employment, and parliamentarian from Bangalore North, Shobha Karandlaje, said: “The Centre has nothing to do with fare revision. If BMRCL did not demand the hike, the Centre wouldn’t have gone ahead with formation of the committee.”
PC Mohan, MP from Bangalore Central, also clarified that it was Karnataka govt which demanded revision of fares, saying the state govt has 51% stake in BMRCL, while the Centre has 49%.
A delegation of BJP MLAs from Bangalore met BMRCL MD Maheshwar Rao M and urged him to rollback the hike. Rao said, “We will do what is feasible. We are bound by Metro Railways (Operations and Maintenance Act). What is actionable within our boundary will be looked into.”