Traveling by Bengaluru Metro has now become more expensive. Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has decided to increase metro fares by up to 50% from February 9.
- New maximum ticket price: ₹90 (earlier ₹60)
- Smart card users will get a 5% discount on fares
Ex-Infosys CFO Criticizes Karnataka Government
Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai has strongly criticized the Karnataka government for this decision. He posted on social media, saying:
- The government mishandled the metro project.
- Due to poor management, the project was delayed.
- The cost of repayment should be handled by the government, not the public.
“Why Should the Common People Suffer?”
Pai was responding to a post by a user named Shashi Bangalore, who questioned the government:
- 20 fewer trains are running on the Green and Purple Lines.
- The Whitefield Extension was supposed to be completed by 2020, but it’s still not fully operational in 2024.
- Due to these delays, revenue loss happened—so who is responsible?
- “Why should we suffer?”
Pai also tagged Karnataka’s Deputy CM, DK Shivakumar, and asked,
“Will our minister take action to protect Bengaluru’s people?”
BMRCL Justifies the Price Hike
BMRCL defended the fare increase, stating:
- The last fare hike was over six years ago.
- The Fare Fixation Committee recommended this increase in its December 16, 2024 report.
- The main reasons for the hike are:
- Rising operational costs
- Repayment of ₹10,422 crore loan
Bengaluru residents are unhappy with this increase, and many are demanding a rollback of the new fares. 🚆💰