Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has officially raised fares by five per cent, effective from February 9. According to BMRCL Public Relations Officer B.L. Yashwant Chauhan, the Fare Fixation Committee mandates an annual fare adjustment based on a specific formula. The minimum fare will increase from Rs 10 to Rs 11, while the maximum fare will rise from Rs 90 to Rs 95.
The Fare Fixation Committee recommended a revised fare structure for BMRCL, noting an average increase of 51.55% due to fare revision after 7.5 years and optimization of fare zones from 29 to 10. To prevent steep fare hikes in the future, the committee suggests an annual automatic fare revision formula linked to operational costs or a maximum of 5% per annum, whichever is lower.
Starting February 9, BMRCL will implement an Annual Automatic Fare Revision, adjusting fares by a minimum of Rs 1 and a maximum of Rs 5 across 10 fare zones covering its 96.10-kilometer network. Despite a 10.20% cost increase based on financial data, fare adjustments are capped at 5% in compliance with the Fare Fixation Committee’s guidelines.
The revised fares will apply to various travel distances, with prices ranging from Rs 11.2 for zero to two kilometers to Rs 21.4 for four kilometers. BMRCL assures that existing discounts for smart-card users, such as 5% off during peak hours and 10% off during non-peak hours on Sundays and three national highways, will continue. However, tourist cards and group tickets will face a 5% annual fare increase.
BMRCL emphasizes that the modest annual fare adjustment aims to ensure financial sustainability and service reliability, avoiding sudden and significant fare hikes in the future. This gradual approach aligns fares with inflation and operating costs, safeguarding commuters from abrupt and infrequent price spikes.
