Metro fare revision likely in Bengaluru, panel seeks people’s suggestions

Bengaluru: Namma Metro is likely to revise fares for the second time since its operations began in 2011. 

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) on Wednesday issued a public notice, asking citizens to give suggestions to the Metro Rail Fare Fixation Committee by October 21. 

Citizens can email their suggestions to [e-mail] or write to the committee’s chairperson who sits at 3rd Floor, 'C' Block, BMTC Complex, KH Road, Shanthinagar, Bengaluru-560027. 

This is the BMRCL’s first fare fixation committee constituted by the union government under sections 33 and 34 of the Metro Railway (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2002. 

The BMRCL last revised fares in 2017, increasing them by 10-15 per cent.

Currently, the minimum fare is Rs 10 and the maximum Rs 60. The maximum fare applies to the longest journey on both Purple and Green lines. Even though the Whitefield-Challaghatta distance is 43.49 km and the Silk Institute-Nagasandra distance is 30.32 km, their fare is the same (Rs 60). 

Passengers using smartcards and QR code tickets get a 5 per cent discount. 

A senior BMRCL official in the know said the fare revision was “long overdue”. 

The BMRCL’s farebox revenue stood at Rs 422.61 crore in 2022-23 and Rs 573.91 crore in 2023-24. 

The per-kilometre expenditure was Rs 8.31 crore in 2023-24 and Rs 6.98 crore in 2022-23. The per-kilometre expenditure for 2022-23 were even higher (Rs 8.31 crore) if the Whitefield line, which opened in March 2023, is exclude, the official explained. 

While the BMRCL’s profit before depreciation was Rs 14.21 crore in the last financial year, its losses before tax stood at Rs 222.45 crore. 

“Our expenses are rising as we expand and add new lines. Plus, we also need to service our debt. So, a fare revision becomes necessary,” the official told DH. 

The committee is expected to submit its recommendations on the fare hike in the next few months.