Tejasvi Surya Moves to Block 5% Namma Metro Fare Increase Planned for February

Overview

• An automatic annual rise of up to 5% was recommended by the Fare Fixation Committee at BMRCL’s request to cover operations, with the next increase proposed to take effect in February.
• Surya says a review of the FFC report found arithmetic anomalies, including use of a 2016–17 base year, and he has written to the Union urban affairs minister, the Karnataka chief minister and deputy chief minister, and the BMRCL managing director seeking a new panel.
• He has threatened protests at metro stations if fares go up next month, arguing Bengaluru riders already pay far more than in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.
• Civic organisations including the Save Bangalore Committee and the Bengaluru Metro Passengers’ Association have condemned the prospective hike as an unfair burden on daily commuters.
• The dispute follows a February 2025 revision that raised some fares by up to 71%, taking the maximum ticket to Rs 90, while Congress says fare decisions rest with a Centre-appointed committee rather than the state.