A fresh political tussle has erupted in Karnataka as Bengaluru commuters brace for a possible Metro fare hike from next month. The BJP and Congress have traded sharp accusations over who is responsible
for the proposed increase.
Bengaluru South MP and BJP leader Tejasvi Surya has launched a strong attack on the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and the Karnataka government, citing Fare Fixation Committee recommendations that permit an annual fare increase of up to 5 per cent.
He argued that Metro ticket prices are already unaffordable and that imposing another hike would further strain daily commuters. In a pointed social media post, Surya claimed that Namma Metro has become the most expensive Metro system in the country due to what he described as “anomalies in fare fixation.”
According to him, fares in Bengaluru are nearly double those in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, a factor he said has discouraged ridership. Surya further alleged that BMRCL and the state government are planning to raise fares in February to compensate for operational and maintenance losses, which he linked to project delays and escalating costs.
He urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to seek the reconstitution of the Fare Fixation Committee, revise the fare structure, and ensure greater transparency. Warning of public backlash, he said fare hikes could trigger protests across the city.
The Congress responded swiftly, dismissing Surya’s claims as “BJP lies and propaganda.” The party maintained that Metro fares are not determined by the Karnataka government but by a Fare Fixation Committee appointed by the Centre, with final approval from a Union government-chaired board.
It stressed that the state has no legal authority to intervene in this process and pointed out that BMRCL is a joint venture, not an entity run solely by the state government. Escalating his criticism, Surya on Saturday warned of statewide protests if BMRCL proceeds with the proposed fare hike.
Calling the increase “unforgivable,” he accused authorities of repeatedly burdening citizens with unjustified fare revisions. He said the BJP would organise protests outside Metro stations if the hike is implemented, adding that commuters would not accept what he termed “anti-people and unscientific” fare decisions.
Surya also flagged the prolonged delay of the Orange Line Metro project, which has remained stalled for over four years, and held BMRCL accountable for the setback. Reiterating that earlier fare decisions were flawed, he said objections raised at the time were ignored.
Urging immediate corrective steps, Surya said the state government should formally write to the Centre seeking a reconstituted Fare Fixation Committee, adding that all Bengaluru MPs would support the move to protect commuters’ interests.
