Bengaluru Metro Fare Hike Put on Hold: BMRCL Defers Annual Revision Until Further Notice
BENGALURU: In a move that brings temporary relief to thousands of daily commuters, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has announced that the proposed annual fare hike, originally scheduled to take effect from tomorrow, February 9, 2026, has been put on hold.
The decision comes just days after the BMRCL issued a media release on February 5, outlining a mandatory annual automatic fare revision. According to the latest official communication, the implementation of these new rates is suspended “till further orders.”
Why the Hike was Proposed
The proposed revision was based on recommendations from the First Fare Fixation Committee (FFC). After a gap of 7.5 years, the FFC had suggested a transparent “Annual Automatic Fare Revision Formula.” This formula is designed to link ticket prices to operation and maintenance (O&M) costs or a 5% annual increase—whichever is lower—to avoid steep, infrequent price jumps.
For 2026, although audited data showed a cost increase of 10.20%, the BMRCL had capped the proposed hike at 5%.
What the New Fares Looked Like
The deferred plan included a marginal increase ranging from ₹1 to ₹5 across the metro’s 10 fare zones. Under the now-paused structure:
- Minimum Fare (0-2 km): Increasing from ₹10 to ₹11.
- Maximum Fare (>30 km): Increasing from ₹90 to ₹95.
- Day Passes: One-day smart card passes were set to rise from ₹300 to ₹313.
Board Review Pending
The BMRCL stated that the final decision regarding the revised fare structure will only be communicated after a thorough review by the Board.
“BMRCL remains committed to providing safe, reliable, and affordable metro services to the citizens of Bengaluru,” the Public Relations Officer stated in the updated release.
For now, commuters can continue to travel at the existing rates. All current discounts, including the 5% peak hour and 10% non-peak hour discounts for Smart Card and NCMC users, remain unchanged.
