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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TCS orders probe, engages external experts in Nashik Case
Mumbai: Tata Consultancy Services on Friday said it has initiated a formal internal investigation into allegations linked to its Nashik unit and engaged independent external experts to ensure transparency in the process.
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director K Krithivasan was quoted by The Observer Post as saying that the company has appointed Deloitte and Trilegal as independent counsel to support the probe. The internal investigation is being led by Aarthi Subramanian.
The company has constituted a supervisory committee chaired by independent director Keki Mistry, which will oversee the process. The committee will also review findings and monitor the implementation of recommendations.
Krithivasan said a preliminary review of the company’s internal systems and records had not revealed any complaints of the nature being alleged through its ethics or POSH channels.
He also clarified that an employee named in media reports, Nida Khan, was not part of the human resources function and did not hold any leadership role. He informed that she worked as a process associate.
The company has also rejected reports suggesting that operations at the Nashik facility had been suspended. It asserted that the unit continues to function without disruption with a zero-tolerance policy towards misconduct.
