Last Updated:February 08, 2026, 19:54 IST

The sudden reversal follows a period of intense public outcry and a heated political battle between the state’s leadership and the central government’s representatives.

BMRCL confirmed that the current fare structure will remain in place until further orders. (Image via X)

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has officially announced a temporary suspension of its planned annual automatic fare revision, which was originally scheduled to take effect from February 9 (Monday).

The sudden reversal follows a period of intense public outcry and a heated political battle between the state’s Congress leadership and the central government’s representatives.

In a press statement, BMRCL confirmed that the current fare structure will remain in place until further orders, noting that the board of directors will convene to review the revised pricing slabs and determine the next course of action.

In a statement, the corporation said, “Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited hereby informs that the Media Release dated 5 February 2026, announcing the implementation of the Annual Fare Revision with effect from 9 February 2026, has been kept on hold till further orders. The decision on the revised fare will be communicated after the Board’ s review.”

The controversy reached a tipping point when Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya intervened, claiming that he had successfully petitioned Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to stall the hike.

Surya lashed out at the state government, accusing Karntaka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s administration of forcing the fare increase to compensate for “weak finances” caused by populist guarantee schemes.

Highlighting what he called “arithmetic errors” in the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) report, Surya argued that Bengaluru already maintains the costliest Metro system in India and that any further increase would make public transport inaccessible for the middle class.

In response, Siddaramaiah and state’s Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have vehemently denied responsibility, labeling the BJP’s accusations as a “deliberate attempt to mislead the public.”

The Chief Minister pointed out that under the Metro Railways (Operation & Maintenance) Act, 2002, fares are determined by an independent committee appointed by the Union Government, leaving the state with zero legal authority to override such decisions.

Shivakumar, who also oversees Bengaluru’s development, stated that the BMRCL board had not consulted him on the revision and that the chairman of the committee is a central government secretary, effectively putting the ball back in the Centre’s court.

As the political blame game continues, the BMRCL board meeting scheduled for tomorrow is expected to be a crucial session. While the BJP insists the state must formally request a new Fare Fixation Committee to rationalize costs, the Congress leadership remains firm that the central framework is the primary driver of the price hikes.

For now, lakhs of daily commuters in Bengaluru have been granted a temporary reprieve, though the long-term affordability of “Namma Metro” remains a central point of contention in the city’s political landscape.

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