Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has announced a fare hike of up to 50% based on the recommendations of the fare determination committee. The new fares will be effective from Sunday. BMRCL has also introduced different fares for peak and non-peak hours, similar to taxi services like Ola and Uber. The maximum fare has been increased from Rs.60 to Rs.90, and the minimum balance required on metro cards has also been raised from Rs.50 to Rs.90.
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) said that the fare determination committee submitted its report on December 16, 2024, recommending a revised fare structure. According to Section 37 of the Metro Railway O&M Act, these recommendations are binding for the metro administration. With proper approval from the BMRCL board, the new fares will be implemented from February 9, 2025.
Peak Hour Tariff System
BMRCL has introduced a Peak Hour Tariff System to offer discounts to smart card users. During peak hours, passengers will get an additional 5% discount. In off-peak hours, they will receive a 5% discount, which effectively becomes 10% for off-peak travel based on entry time.
Off-peak hours are divided into three time slots:
• From the start of metro service until 8 AM
• From 12 PM to 4 PM
• From 9 PM until the metro closes on weekdays
Metro officials have also announced that a 10% discount will be given on all Sundays and national holidays for smart card users. This system aims to manage crowd flow and encourage more passengers to travel during non-rush hours. The new tariff system is expected to benefit daily commuters while ensuring smooth metro operations.
Metro Fare Hike Follows Bus Fare Increase
The metro fare hike comes soon after the Karnataka government increased bus fares by 15%. Last month, Bengaluru Central MP P. C. Mohan had posted on X that the proposed metro fare hike had been stopped.
In his post, he stated, The 45% metro fare hike proposed by BMRCL for February 1 has been stopped. The Modi government has directed BMRCL to present a detailed report before making any decision. This is a big win for the people of Bengaluru – ensuring transparency, accountability, and fair metro pricing.
Despite this statement, the metro fare has now been officially increased. Commuters will have to adjust to the higher travel costs, which may impact daily travel expenses. The fare revision aims to balance operational costs and improve metro services, but it has also raised concerns among regular passengers.
