Synopsis: The plan to raise Namma Metro fares by 12% every 3 years in the Phase 3A project report has started a discussion, many people are questioning if this is legal, if people can afford it and will this impact their daily commute.
Why is Namma Metro’s Fare Hike Proposal Under Fresh Scrutiny?
Bengaluru’s Namma Metro is in the news again as the Detailed Project Report for Phase 3A of Namma Metro is talking about increasing the fares of Namma Metro by 12% every 3 years. People are not happy with this proposal, they think that the fares of Namma Metro under the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002 should be decided by a committee that is not connected to Namma Metro called the Fare Fixation Committee.
What is the Proposed 12% Fare Hike Formula?
The new plan for Phase 3A says that the fare for the metro should go up by 12% every 3 years. This will help BMRCL deal with inflation and the increasing costs of running the metro. The people making this plan think that if they raise the fare like this they can make more money in the long run and have a better financial situation.
This plan is different from what the Fare Fixation Committee said, they thought it would be better to raise the fare by 5% every year based on how much it costs to run and maintain the metro until a new committee is formed.
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Why Are Experts Raising Concerns?
Urban transport experts and people who watch the law are wondering if the DPR can decide to increase the fares when the Metro Rail Act already has a way to deal with this issue through the Fare Fixation Committee. They think that changes to the fares should be decided on their own and should be based on what’s going on with the economy at the time rather than being part of the financial plans for a project. The idea has also caused people to worry about whether BMRCL is being open and honest about the fares and if people who use the metro can afford it.
How Could It Affect Commuters?
According to the revised DPR, Namma Metro’s minimum fare is going to go up from ₹10 to ₹14 by 2033 and the maximum fare will also go up from ₹90 to ₹126 by the time the new corridor is ready. This will make Namma Metro one of the most expensive metros in India which raises the question of affordability in commuters mind.
What Happens Next?
The 12% fare increase plan is now part of the Phase 3A plan; the fare increase plan has not been officially approved by the government. The Karnataka government will look at the fare increase plan when they approve the project and if the fares are changed in the future they will have to follow the rules of the Metro Rail Act and the way fares are normally decided.