CM Siddaramaiah intervenes to address exorbitant hike in Metro Rail fare
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said that he directed the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited to address the anomalies in the Metro Rail fare.
The Chief Minister intervened following complaints about recent metro fare hikes being so steep.
"The way Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) implemented the Bengaluru Metro fare revision has led to anomalies, with fares more than doubling in certain sections," Siddaramaiah said in a post on 'X'.
"I have asked the MD of BMRCL to urgently address these issues and reduce fares where increases are abnormal. Commuters' interests must be safeguarded," he added.
The BMRCL had said that it hiked the fare by about 50 per cent. However, it has now come to light that the hike is almost double the previous fare in certain sections.
BMRCL also introduced separate rate for the 'peak time' taking a cue from the ride hailing companies.
Many commuters were hit hard by the steep hike in the fare, especially the students and people from low income groups, who have now switched to buses and private vehicles.
BMRCL sources said their revenues dropped after the fare revision.
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Four killed, one critically injured as tractor-trolley collides with bike in UP's Kaushambi
Kaushambi (UP) (PTI): Four people were killed and another man was critically injured after a tractor-trolley collided head-on with a motorcycle near a village here on Thursday, police said.
Five people were riding on a single motorcycle when the accident took place at around 9 pm near Arka village in the Karari area, they said.
The deceased were identified as Rahul (14), Akash Saroj (25), Aman (22) and Chhotu (20), while Vikas Kaithwal (18) sustained critical injuries. All the victims were residents of Dhanpara village.
The victims were taken to the district hospital, where doctors declared four of them dead. The injured person is undergoing treatment, police said.
Following the accident, the driver fled with the tractor, leaving the trolley behind, they said.
Police are now examining CCTV footage along the route taken by the motorcycle riders.
The Circle Officer of Manjhanpur has been asked to probe the functioning of police pickets and Police Response Vehicles deployed on the route, a senior police official said.
The families of the deceased have been informed, and post-mortem examinations are being conducted, he added.
