Bengaluru Metro fare hike: Karnataka CM asks BMRCL to reduce 'abnormal increases'

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on February 13 instructed BMRCL to reduce metro fares where "increases are abnormal", saying commuters' interests must be protected.

Siddaramaiah had earlier stated that he has no control over BMRCL’s decision to increase fares.

Congress and BJP continue to blame each other for the Metro fare hike, with members of both parties staging separate protests against it.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya raised the issue in Parliament during Zero Hour on February 12, highlighting the fare hike’s impact on Bengaluru’s middle class.

BMRCL implemented a steep fare hike on February 9, increasing the maximum fare from Rs 60 to Rs 90—a 50 percent increase. However, the fare hike has led to a 100 percent increase in short-distance commute costs across several Metro stations.

The state government is facing criticism for the sharp increase in Metro fares, which came immediately after a 15 percent bus fare hike.