Namma Metro To Hike Fare? Rise In Ticket Price Expected As Committee Prepares Report

The fare for Bengaluru Metro is expected to rise, with the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) set to submit its report on the proposed hike to the government in the coming days, as reported by The Hindu.

The FFC had previously invited public suggestions regarding the fare increase, and it appears that Namma Metro travel will become more expensive for commuters.

According to the report, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is considering a 10-15% increase in fares. Currently, the minimum fare is ₹10, and the maximum is ₹60, with a 5% discount for smartcard users. The last fare revision took place in 2017.

A three-member panel, headed by Justice R. Tharani, a retired judge of the Madras High Court, has been formed to review the fare structure of Bengaluru Metro. The committee also includes Satyendra Pal Singh, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and E.V. Ramana Reddy, the former Additional Chief Secretary of Karnataka.

The report further stated that the committee has thoroughly examined metro fare structures in various cities, both in India and internationally, to ensure a fair and balanced approach to any proposed revisions. The committee's findings and recommendations will be compiled into a detailed report, which will soon be submitted to the government.

Since the last revision in 2017, metro ridership has grown rapidly alongside the expansion of the network. The Purple Line, a vital route for IT workers in East Bengaluru, has become a key means of public transport for many commuters, often experiencing heavy congestion during peak hours. There are calls for increasing the number of trains to manage the crowds during these busy periods.

Bengaluru's metro network is approximately 76 kilometres long, making it the second-largest metro system in the country, after New Delhi.