E Sreedharan: Bengaluru Metro charges should not exceed 1.5 times non-AC bus fare

Bengaluru Metro fares should not exceed one and a half times the non-AC bus fare, said E Sreedharan, popularly known as India's Metro Man.

Bengaluru Metro has recently increased fares by up to 71 percent, making it the costliest in the country. BMRCL officials said that the hike was based on the Fare Fixation Committee’s recommendation.

The maximum fare (for distances above 25 km) has risen from Rs 60 to Rs 90, while the minimum balance required on smart cards has increased from Rs 50 to Rs 90.

In Bengaluru, the minimum non-AC bus fare, which was hiked by 15 percent across the board, was revised from January 5. The non-AC bus fare is Rs 5 for 2 km and Rs 32 for 50 km.

Meanwhile, the Metro’s minimum fare for 2 km is Rs 10, while the fare for distances above 25 km has increased to Rs 90.

Bengaluru Metro’s Phase 1, covering 42 km, was initially estimated at Rs 6,395 crore in 2005 but later increased to Rs 14,133 crore.

Similarly, Phase 2, covering 72 km, was estimated at Rs 26,405 crore in 2014 but increased to Rs 30,695 crore in 2022, and further to Rs 40,614.27 crore in 2024. Phase 2 deadline is now pushed to 2026.