Fare hike paused, but rising costs, debt and political blame game keep debate alive
February 10, 2026: Bengaluru’s Namma Metro has earned an unwanted tag as India’s most expensive metro system, intensifying commuter anger after fare hikes of up to 71 percent last year. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) had planned an additional annual fare increase of around 5 percent from February 9, but mounting public criticism and political pressure forced authorities to put the proposal on hold. While the pause has brought temporary relief, it has also sparked wider questions over why metro travel in Bengaluru costs significantly more than in other major cities.
At the centre of the issue is BMRCL’s strained financial health. The steep fares stem from recommendations of the first Fare Fixation Committee (FFC), set up in September 2024, which said fare rationalisation was essential to tackle mounting losses and debt. Metro fares had remained unchanged since 2017 even as operating and maintenance costs surged by 133 percent, driven by rising energy bills, staff salaries, outsourced services and repair expenses. Compounding the problem is a heavy debt burden, with over Rs 34,000 crore in loans and annual repayments projected to cross Rs 2,700 crore by 2029–30.
Compared to other cities, Bengaluru’s metro fares remain markedly higher—Delhi Metro caps fares at Rs 64, Mumbai at Rs 80, Hyderabad at Rs 69, and Kolkata at Rs 50. Karnataka leaders have offered differing explanations, with Deputy CM DK Shivakumar saying fares are frozen until a new FFC reviews costs, while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has pointed to the Union government’s role in fare decisions. As political blame shifts between state and Centre, commuters continue to question why Bengaluru pays the highest price for public metro travel in the country.