Bengaluru Metro Price 50% Hike Effective From Today; Check Breakdown of New Rates And Discounts

Bengaluru’s metro commuters will have to pay more for their rides starting today, Sunday, as the revised fare structure comes into effect. With an average increase of 45-46 per cent after discounts, the fare hike has sparked concerns among passengers and transport activists.

Significant Hike in Metro Fares

The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) Board approved the fare revision on January 17, following recommendations from the Fare Fixation Committee. While the base fare for the first 2 km remains unchanged at Rs 10, the maximum fare has jumped by 50 per cent from Rs 60 to Rs 90.

On some routes, the increase will be as high as 51.5 per cent, while the lowest hike (excluding the base fare) will be 30 per cent. The minimum balance required on smart metro cards has also been raised from Rs 50 to Rs 90, an 80 per cent increase.

Despite offering discounts on Sundays and off-peak hours, the BMRCL expects to generate an additional Rs 55-60 lakh in daily revenue. However, a slight drop of 1-2 per cent in daily ridership is also anticipated. Currently, the Namma Metro network spans 76.95 km and serves over eight lakh passengers daily.

Discounts for Smart Card Users

To soften the impact of the fare hike, the committee has retained a 5 per cent discount on smart card fares. Additionally, an extra 5 per cent discount will be given to smart card users during off-peak hours (opening to 8 am, noon to 4 pm, and 9 pm to closing on weekdays).

On Sundays and three national holidays (January 26, August 15, and October 2), passengers will receive a 10 per cent discount. However, there will be no discounts for WhatsApp QR code tickets.

Changes in Pass and Group Ticket Fares

The fares for metro tourist passes and group tickets have also been revised:

• One-day tourist pass: Rs 300
• Three-day pass: Rs 600
• Five-day pass: Rs 800

For group tickets, the discount has been increased from 10 per cent to 15 per cent for groups of 25 to 99 people if they enter and exit together from the same station. The flat fare for groups of 100-1,000 people is Rs 60 per person, while for groups of over 1,000, it is Rs 50 per person.

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