Bengaluru metro fares set to rise by 5% from February 9

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Bengaluru metro passengers will face an increase in travel costs, with fares scheduled to increase by 5% from February 9. Although passengers were unhappy with last year’s hike, the revision will increase the minimum ticket price to ₹11 and the maximum fare to ₹95.

The decision follows the implementation of the annual wage adjustment recommended by the Fee Fixation Committee (FFC). According to officials, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. The (BMRCL) board has approved the revision, which will come into force without requiring permission from the Union or State government.

The recommendations the FFC submitted last year are mandatory and should be implemented every year until a new committee is formed, officials said.

“The fare revision is part of the automatic formula determined by the Fare Fixation Committee. These recommendations are binding on the operator and do not require further approval. BMRCL is obliged to implement them as notified,” said a senior BMRCL official. HinduIf the increase exceeds 50 paise, the fees will be rounded to the nearest rupee.

most expensive

Currently, the Bengaluru metro charges a minimum fare of ₹10 for journeys up to two kilometers and a maximum fare of ₹90 for journeys exceeding 25 km. With a five per cent increase, these rates are expected to rise to ₹11 and ₹95 respectively, cementing Bengaluru’s position as the most expensive metro system in the country.

The announcement once again drew attention to last year’s wage increases. On February 9, 2025, BMRCL increased ticket prices sharply, with some slabs seeing increases exceeding 100%. This move sparked widespread protests from passengers. Following the reaction, the metro operator attributed the anomaly to technical problems and later limited the increase to 71% compared to February 14.

suburban criticism

Many commuters argue that a new increase only a year later is unreasonable, especially at a time when public transport is being promoted as a sustainable alternative to private cars. Passengers point out that rising subway fares could undermine efforts to reduce congestion in the city, which was recently named the world’s second most congested city in a TomTom report.

Prakash Mandoth, president of Bangalore Metro and Suburban Rail Passengers Association, criticized the timing of the revision. “The sharp fare increase introduced a year ago had already placed a heavy burden on passengers. Since then, the Yellow Line has become operational, leading to a significant increase in passengers and revenue. This year’s increase could have been postponed,” he said.

Mr Mandoth warned that frequent fare increases would deter people from using public transport. “Repeated increases will push commuters towards personal two-wheelers and cars, which many find more affordable and convenient. This move will disproportionately impact students, salaried workers, and lower- and middle-income groups. Continuing the hikes reflects a lack of sensitivity towards daily commuters.”