Namma Metro fare hike put on hold after public backlash; BMRCL to review decision

After mounting public outrage and an intense political exchange between the ruling Congress and the BJP in the State, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) has put on hold the implementation of the proposed annual fare revision for Namma Metro, which was scheduled to come into effect on February 9, 2026.

After mounting public outrage and an intense political exchange between the ruling Congress and the BJP in the State, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) has put on hold the implementation of the proposed annual fare revision for Namma Metro, which was scheduled to come into effect on February 9, 2026.

In a media release on Sunday, BMRCL said its earlier communication dated February 5, announcing the fare revision, had been kept in abeyance until further orders. “The decision on the revised fare will be communicated after the board’s review,” the release stated, without specifying a timeline.

The rollback follows widespread criticism from commuters and a political slugfest, with both the BJP and the Congress attempting to pin responsibility for the proposed hike on the other. The issue was politically sensitive, particularly in the backdrop of last year’s steep increase in metro fares that had sparked protests across the city.

Speaking to The Hindu, sources in BMRCL said that the decision to pause the revision was taken after a communication from the Union government.

“There has been a communication received from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), hence we have decided to temporarily hold the fare hike. However, the BMRCL Board will review the matter,” the official said.

BMRCL had earlier announced a zone-wise fare revision under its Annual Automatic Fare Revision mechanism. The revised fare structure proposed a marginal increase of ₹1 to ₹5 across 10 fare zones, with fares recalibrated based on distance slabs across the Namma Metro network. While the increase was projected as modest, it triggered strong resistance from commuters, largely because it followed the controversial fare hike implemented in February last year.