NAMMA METRO UPDATE: BENGALURU METRO FARE HIKE REDUCED FROM 50% TO 30% AFTER BACKLASH

Bengaluru Namma Metro Update: The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) on Thursday announced a revision in the recent metro fare hike following backlash from the commuters and public representatives. It stated that there will be a reduction of up to 30 per cent on several routes, and the changes will be "immediately implemented".

BMRCL Managing Director Maheshwar Rao said that the board decided to cut the ticket costs after reviewing different factors and considering the criticism from the public. He added that "abnormal" fare hikes at specific points will be reduced immediately to provide convenience to the commuters. Earlier last month, several employees of the Bengaluru metro opposed the idea of a ticket price hike, adding that better management of funds can take care of the rising demands.

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Maheshwar Rao said that after several meetings, the board has decided to "make corrections" at various points. “We would just like to mention that there has been some basic feedback from the people. Both us and the board had a meeting yesterday and this morning as well, and we had a detailed discussion about the overall suggestions of the fare fixation committee," Rao was quoted as saying by India Today.

"Based on these suggestions, the board has decided that they will be able to take some suggestions and make corrections for some of the prices which were jumping up abnormally in different points,” he added. He also said that the priority of the metro officials is to provide convenience to the commuters. He added that the fare hike was compulsory as the city's metro has been witnessing a remarkable growth in the past few months.

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Rao also pointed out that this was the first hike in the fare of the Bengaluru metro after 2017, adding that the BMRCL is committed to growing the metro lines to boost the public transport sector of the busy city. Several of the commuters protested the fare hike by stating that they would boycott metro rides if the prices were not reduced.