Bengaluru metro fares set to rise by 5% from February 9

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Bengaluru metro commuters are set to face an increase in travel costs, with fares scheduled to rise by 5% from February 9. The revision will push the minimum ticket price to ₹11 and the maximum fare to ₹95, even as commuters remain unhappy about last year’s hike.

The decision follows the implementation of the annual fare adjustment recommended by the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC). The board of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) has approved the revision, which will come into effect without requiring clearance from either the Union or the State government, according to officials.

Officials said that the FFC’s recommendations, submitted last year, are mandatory and must be enforced annually until a new committee is constituted.

“The fare revision is part of an automatic formula prescribed by the Fare Fixation Committee. These recommendations are binding on the operator and do not require further approvals. The BMRCL is obligated to implement them as notified,” a senior BMRCL official told The Hindu, adding that the rounding-off of fares would be done to the nearest rupee where the increase exceeds 50 paise.

Most expensive

Currently, Bengaluru metro charges a minimum fare of ₹10 for journeys up to two kilometres and a maximum of ₹90 for trips beyond 25 km. With the five per cent increment, these rates are expected to rise to ₹11 and ₹95 respectively, reinforcing Bengaluru’s position as the most expensive metro system in the country.

The announcement has once again drawn attention to last year’s fare hike. On February 9, 2025, BMRCL had sharply increased ticket prices, with some slabs witnessing hikes exceeding 100%. The move triggered widespread protests from commuters. Following the backlash, the metro operator attributed the anomaly to technical issues and later capped the increase at 71% from February 14.

Commuter criticism

Many passengers argue that another hike, barely a year later, is unreasonable, particularly at a time when public transport is being promoted as a sustainable alternative to private vehicles. Commuters point out that rising metro fares could undermine efforts to reduce congestion in the city, which was recently ranked as the second-most congested in the world in a TomTom report.

Prakash Mandoth, president of the Bangalore Metro and Suburban Rail Passenger’s Association, criticised the timing of the revision. “The sharp fare hike implemented a year ago already placed a heavy burden on commuters. Since then, the Yellow Line has become operational, leading to a significant rise in ridership and revenue. This year’s increase could have been deferred,” he said.

Mr. Mandoth warned that frequent fare hikes would discourage people from using public transport. “Repeated increases will push commuters towards personal two-wheelers and cars, which many find more affordable and convenient. This move will disproportionately impact students, salaried employees, and lower- and middle-income groups. Proceeding with the hike reflects a lack of sensitivity towards everyday commuters,” he added.