BJP MP Tejasvi Surya finds flaw in Bengaluru Metro fare fixation
Bengaluru (PTI): BJP MP Tejasvi Surya on Tuesday raised concerns regarding the 'exorbitant' fare hike by the BMRCL.
The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) had hiked the fare in February by almost 125 per cent and revised it after receiving a severe backlash a week after the increase. Yet, many commuters had been complaining that the hike was still high.
Surya, who represents Bengaluru South constituency, pointed out 'a major calculation error' in determining the base year for maintenance and administrative costs, which forms the foundation of the Fare Fixation Committee’s report.
"Instead of considering the Maintenance and Administration cost of 2017-18, the BMRCL, while requesting for the hike before the FFC, calculated the M&A Cost pertaining to 2016-17," Surya said in a statement.
This incorrect computation has led to an unjustified increase in fares, resulting in commuters paying an estimated Rs 150 crore in excess since the fare revision, he claimed.
"Even though the average fare increase remained 51.5 per cent, the most common journeys undertaken by commuters (falling in the 8-15 km slab) have seen an unjustified hike close to 70 per cent," the MP stated.
He added that the same journeys in the Metros of Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Nagpur cost approximately half the ticket price of Bengaluru Metro.
The MP urged BMRCL to immediately rectify the anomalies in the fare fixation and ensure that commuters are not burdened by flawed calculations.
He also sought a detailed clarification from BMRCL on how the 'error' occurred and whether any corrective measures have been initiated.
According to him, BMRCL officials have assured him that a formal response on the issue will be shared shortly.
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CM launches poster campaign 'Justice for Karnataka'
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday released nine posters as part of a campaign: ‘Justice for Karnataka. Fair Share–Strong Federalism’ asking the Centre to heed state's demands.
These posters highlight key demands placed before the Finance Commission: Restoring Karnataka’s fair tax share; correcting unjust income, population and GSDP criteria; ensuring fair disaster and ecological support; strengthening decentralisation; providing dedicated infrastructure support for Bengaluru; supporting backward regions like Kalyana Karnataka; and upholding the constitutional spirit of cooperative federalism, Siddaramaiah said.
In a statement, Siddaramaiah said his government has placed its legitimate and constitutionally grounded demands before the 16th Finance Commission, seeking justice in tax devolution and fiscal federalism.
“We hope that the 16th Finance Commission reflects these concerns fairly in its recommendations, and that the Union Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi implements them in letter and spirit, without subjecting Karnataka to petty politics or discrimination, as has unfortunately happened in the past,” the chief minister said.
Siddaramaiah underlined that Karnataka is among the country’s highest contributors to national revenues, yet its share in tax devolution was earlier reduced from 4.71 per cent to 3.64 per cent causing a loss of nearly Rs 80,000 crore.
"Flawed formulas that penalise development and population control, unrealistic GSDP calculations, inadequate disaster support, unchecked cesses and surcharges, denial of GST compensation, and non-release of recommended grants have collectively weakened the state’s finances," Siddaramaiah charged.
