Karnataka HC issues notices to govt, BMRCL as Tejasvi Surya seeks release of report behind Bengaluru Metro fare hike
Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav directed the respondents to file their replies within two weeks. During the hearing, the court orally remarked, 'You are so powerful; you cannot get the BMRCL to do that much also?' Responding to the observation, Surya's counsel submitted that while the MP had raised the issue multiple times, BMRCL had not responded.
'The maximum we can do is write to them. Even the public is behind this. We met the BMRCL managing director directly, but they are not responding. They say they are awaiting the state government's approval. The Act does not give them any such discretion,' the counsel submitted.
In his petition, Surya contended that as an elected representative of Bangalore South—a constituency served extensively by Namma Metro—and as a daily commuter, he had made three formal requests to BMRCL, on April 28, May 8, and May 15, seeking the publication of the FFC report.
However, BMRCL had failed to act on these demands. The plea points out that the FFC, headed by former judge R Tharani, submitted its report on December 16, 2024, after studying fare models of Metro systems across India and abroad, including visits to Singapore and Hong Kong.
On February 8, 2025, BMRCL publicly announced that it had received the report recommending fare revisions. Based on the committee's recommendations, BMRCL implemented a steep fare hike from February 9, 2025—increasing fares by up to 100 per cent, with the maximum fare rising from Rs 60 to Rs 90, making Namma Metro the most expensive metro network in India at that time. Following strong public backlash and interventions by Surya, BMRCL revised fares again on February 14, capping the maximum increase at around 71 per cent.
The petition argues that as a state entity, BMRCL must adhere to principles of fairness, transparency, and natural justice, and ensure that its decisions do not cause undue hardship to the public. It further states that metro rail corporations in other cities, including Mumbai and Hyderabad, have published such reports for public scrutiny, promoting transparency in governance.
'Despite multiple reminders and follow-ups, BMRCL's refusal to release the report is arbitrary and lacks rational justification,' the plea states.
The matter will be next heard in two weeks.
Taking to X, Surya said, 'Bangaloreans have been reeling under steep fare hike enforced by BMRCL, as recommended by Fare Fixation Committee Report. Public deserves to know the contents of this report.' He added, 'Ideally, it shouldn't require High Court interventions. But such is the unreasonable behaviour of BMRCL in not making the report public, it warranted a stern push. BMRCL must realise it is a very simple demand and release the report at least now.'
Bangalore Central MP P C Mohan, also from the BJP, wrote on the social media platform, 'Transparency shouldn't require orders from the High Court of Karnataka. Bengaluru commuters deserve to know how fares are set. BMRCL must release the Fare Fixation Committee Report now. Public trust is built through openness, not secrecy, silence or stonewalling.'
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