Today, On 7th July, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya told the Karnataka High Court that the new Bengaluru Metro fare is “unaffordable for many middle-class commuters.” He accused BMRCL of hiding the report that recommended the steep fare hike.
Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya approached the Karnataka High Court, alleging that the state government and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) are hiding the Metro Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) report, which proposed a major fare hike.
Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav issued a notice regarding the matter on Monday and scheduled the case for a hearing the week after next.
During a brief hearing, the judge humorously remarked,
“You (Tejasvi Surya) are so powerful; you can’t get BMRCL to do that (disclose the report)?”
In response, Surya’s counsel stated,
“We have written to them, we met MD directly; they are saying they are waiting for the State’s approval. The public is also behind them (to release the report).”
The counsel further argued that the BMRCL lacks the authority to withhold the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) report.
Surya’s petition, filed through Advocate Anirudh A Kulkarni, noted that the FFC was established on September 7, 2024, chaired by retired Madras High Court judge Justice R Tharani, to recommend a revised fare structure for the metro trains operated by BMRCL.
Surya stated,
“This fare structure is unaffordable for many middle-class commuters,”
The FFC submitted its report in December 2024, which led to a significant fare increase for Bengaluru Metro, effective February 2025.
The petition stated,
“Based on the recommendations of the said Committee, BMRCL implemented a substantial fare hike on February 9, 2025, increasing fares by up to 100% in some cases, with maximum fare rising from Rs. 60 to Rs. 90, making Namma Metro the most expensive metro system in India,”
Surya highlighted that he had previously raised concerns in Parliament regarding the burden the increased fares placed on commuters. Following public opposition, the fares were partially reduced in February, capping the maximum increase at 71 percent.
In April, Surya formally requested that the BMRCL make the FFC report publicly available.
However, the BMRCL did not comply, leading Surya to send a follow-up letter in May. He also learned that several others, including media personnel, had submitted Right to Information (RTI) requests for the disclosure of the FFC report, all of which were unsuccessful.
His plea noted,
“Till date, BMRCL has not acted upon the Petitioner’s letters or public requests for release of the FFC report,”
As a result, he is now seeking the Court’s intervention. Surya’s plea emphasized,
“BMRCL is a joint venture of Government of India and Government of Karnataka that uses public funds and has a constitutional duty to function transparently without claiming immunity from its obligation to disclose the Report of the FFC, more so, when the decision to hike the fare that affects the general public, stems from the said Report.”
He characterized his legal action as a fight for transparency and fairness in governance.
He concluded,
“I will not rest until Namma Bengaluru becomes a model in public transport for all of India,”
During the protest on Saturday regarding the delay in launching the Yellow Line, Surya reiterated his call for the BMRCL to promptly release the FFC report, emphasizing that the public deserves transparency and an understanding of the reasons behind the fare increase.
Case Title: LS Tejasvi Surya v. Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited and ors
FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES
