Bengaluru Metro Fare Row Sparks BJP–Congress Clash Over Changed Subsidy Policy

A political dispute has intensified over Bengaluru Metro fares after BJP MP Tejasvi Surya blamed the Congress-led Karnataka government for rising ticket prices, alleging the state stopped annual subsidies of ₹200–300 crore to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) after 2023.

Surya argued that earlier BJP-supported funding helped keep fares affordable and claimed BMRCL’s finances show a significant revenue gap in the absence of state aid. His remarks followed public protests led by MP Surya over a proposed 5% fare hike scheduled for February 9, which has since been temporarily paused. Surya, who was briefly detained during demonstrations, welcomed the halt but called for a “scientific” fare review through a joint central–state committee and restoration of fiscal support.

MP Surya says, "While we welcome the temporary halt to the second round of fare hikes, the permanent solution lies in a transparent, scientific revision of fares and sustained budgetary support for public transport in a city like Bengaluru."

The Congress government maintains that fare decisions fall within BMRCL’s operational framework and credits its own intervention for the suspension of the hike. Officials say financial sustainability is essential as the network expands and debt servicing rises.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah says, "Who decides the metro fares? Am I the chairman? The chairman is appointed by the central government, and it is the chairman who decides the fares. I have no information about what Tejaswi Surya did or why he did it. I don't know, we didn't announced it yet. From my side, I have never recommended an increase in metro fares."