Tejasvi Surya raises concern over Namma Metro fare hike, alleges ₹150 crore calculation error
Bengaluru: Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has questioned the recent Namma Metro fare hike, alleging that commuters may have been overcharged by nearly ₹150 crore due to a calculation error by the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).
Speaking at a review meeting on Tuesday, Surya said BMRCL used incorrect base year data while submitting expenditure figures to the Fare Fixation Committee. According to a report by Hindustan Times, he claimed that the corporation relied on financial data from 2016–17 instead of 2017–18, leading to inflated operational and maintenance cost estimates.
“This incorrect computation has resulted in an unjustified increase in fares,” Surya said, urging officials to rectify the error and issue a clarification at the earliest.
The MP also compared Bengaluru’s metro fares with other major cities, noting that a 20–25 km ride in Bengaluru costs ₹80, while a 32 km journey in Delhi costs ₹64. Similarly, Mumbai’s 12–18 km route costs ₹30, whereas Bengaluru commuters pay ₹60 for 10–15 km. He pointed out that while Mumbai’s maximum fare is ₹70, Bengaluru charges ₹90 for distances beyond 25 km.
“Metro fares in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Nagpur are 25–50 per cent lower than Bengaluru’s,” Surya said, adding that although the overall fare revision was announced as 51.5 per cent, the most commonly used distance slabs (8–15 km) have witnessed hikes of nearly 70 per cent, burdening daily commuters.
BMRCL officials, according to reports, have assured that a formal clarification will be issued soon.
“Public transport must remain affordable and accountable. Such lapses erode public confidence in urban mobility systems like Namma Metro,” Surya said.
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Bihar CM walks to secretariat from official residence after PM's appeal to spend wisely
Patna (PTI): Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Friday walked from his official residence to the cabinet secretariat in Patna with senior officials, heeding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for cutting down fuel consumption and spending more wisely in view of the West Asia crisis.
Choudhary travelled on foot around 500 metres from the Lok Sewak Awas (CM’s official residence) to the cabinet secretariat office in the morning, accompanied by the officials.
Earlier, the chief minister had ordered slashing the size of his cavalcade, prompting cabinet colleagues to follow suit.
Choudhary, who became the first BJP leader to head a government in Bihar last month, had also said that his government is planning several steps to reduce the use of fuel, including promoting work-from-home and observing a ‘no vehicle day’ once a week.
To minimise travel requirements, he had said all state government departments have been directed to hold meetings through video-conferencing.
Choudhary had also said directions have been issued to cut down the use of palm oil in canteens at government offices.
Emphasising that the Centre was trying to shield people from the adverse impact of the conflict in West Asia, the PM had on May 10 called for judicious use of fuel, postponement of gold purchases and foreign travel, among other measures, to strengthen the economy.
