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The recent increase in Bengaluru Metro fares has ignited a political firestorm, with Congress workers staging protests at various metro stations across the city. Donning masks of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, these protestors voiced their discontent with the fare revision, highlighting the perceived burden on commuters. The protests, concentrated at key locations such as Rajajinagar and Malleswaram Mantri Mall metro stations, quickly escalated the issue into a major political debate, prompting a swift response from the Karnataka Chief Minister's Office (CMO). This immediate reaction underscores the sensitivity of the issue and its potential to impact public opinion in the lead-up to any future elections.
The Karnataka CMO's statement directly addressed the accusations leveled by the BJP, the opposing party. Accusations of misleading information and the exploitation of public concerns for political gain were central to the CMO's counter-narrative. The statement cleverly highlighted the inherent contradictions within the BJP's stance, pointing out their simultaneous claim of credit for the Metro Rail's achievements under the central government, while simultaneously blaming the state government for the fare revision. This apparent hypocrisy, the CMO argued, was a clear case of political opportunism at the expense of the public's understanding of the situation.
A key element of the CMO's defense lies in the legal framework governing the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). The CMO emphasized the BMRCL's status as a joint venture between the central and Karnataka governments, operating under the Metro Railways Act of 2002. This act necessitates central government approval for any fare revisions. The CMO's statement pointedly asked why BMRCL, if the state government had sole authority, would seek approval from the central government instead. This argument effectively shifts the responsibility for the fare increase away from the state government and towards the central government’s approval process, thereby undermining the BJP's criticism.
The fare revision itself followed a rigorous process. A committee, headed by retired Madras High Court judge R. Tharani, was established by the central government to examine the issue. This committee's work involved a comprehensive study of fare structures in other metro systems across India, the collection of passenger feedback, and consultations with metro officials in Delhi and Chennai. The resulting report, submitted in December 2024, is described as extensive, containing ten chapters that compare Bengaluru's fares to national standards. This detailed process, overseen by a respected judicial figure, lends credibility to the fare revision, despite the public outcry.
The significant expansion of the Bengaluru Metro network since the last fare revision in 2017 further justifies the increase in fares, according to the CMO. The network has nearly quadrupled in size, growing from 42.3 km to a planned 175.55 km by December 2026. This expansion naturally entails increased operational and maintenance costs, arguing that the fare revision is necessary to sustain the system's growth and operations. Comparing Bengaluru's fares to those of other metro systems, such as Mumbai, where fares range from Rs 10 to Rs 80, also supports the contention that the Bengaluru fares remain relatively competitive within the national context.
Finally, the CMO underscored the legal obligation of BMRCL to implement the fare revision recommendations under Section 37 of the Metro Railways Act. This legal requirement reinforces the argument that the fare increase was not an arbitrary decision of the state government, but rather a legally mandated outcome of a thorough and independent review process. The ongoing protests, while expressing legitimate concerns about increased costs, are arguably being manipulated for political purposes, obscuring the complexities of the fare revision process and the underlying legal frameworks involved. The debate highlights the intricate interplay between state and central government responsibilities in managing crucial public infrastructure projects.
Source: Congress workers protest against centre over increased metro fares in Bengaluru