Union Cabinet minister helped stay hike in B'lure Metro fare: Tejasvi Surya

Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar has asked officials to temporarily halt the proposed Bengaluru Metro fare hike amid political sparring between BJP and Congress

BJP MP from Bengaluru South Tejasvi Surya on Saturday said that Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has instructed officials to temporarily put on hold the proposed metro fare hike in the city, which was scheduled to take effect from February 9.

He said the Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs also assured a personal review of anomalies in the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) and added that a fresh committee could be considered if the state government requests it.

"Had a detailed phone conversation with Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattarji, seeking his immediate intervention against the state government's unjust Bengaluru metro fare hike proposed to start from Monday," Surya said in a post on 'X'.

 

He noted that Bengaluru already has the costliest metro fares in India, and another hike would make public transport unaffordable for lakhs of citizens, defeating its purpose.

"He has instructed that the proposed hike be kept on hold temporarily. It will not take effect from Monday. He also assured a personal review of anomalies in the FFC and said a fresh committee can be considered if the state requests it," Surya added.

Expressing gratitude to Khattar for his "swift and sensitive" response, the MP said this is another example of the Centre prioritising commuter welfare and preventing an unreasonable hike by the Congress government in the state.

"The question now is simple: Will the state government act in the citizens' interest or hide behind lies again? CM Siddaramaiah must act at once, formally initiate the process to constitute a new FFC, and facilitate early rationalisation of fares. Mr CM, please answer-will you or won't you?" he asked.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) on Thursday had said that metro fares would be revised on a zone-by-zone basis starting February 9 as part of its annual automatic fare adjustment system.

Under the new structure, Namma Metro fares were set to rise by Rs 1 to Rs 5 across 10 zones, with charges adjusted according to travel distances throughout the network.

Following the announcement, a "blame game" ensued between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP in the state. While the BJP blamed the state government for the decision, the Congress said the "hike was determined by the FFC, headed by central government officials, and the state was not consulted."  Surya also posted a video statement on 'X', saying he had informed Khattar that the FFC had made several mistakes when it was constituted and needed correction.

"I requested the union minister to halt the new proposal for a further 5 per cent fare hike, scheduled to come into effect from Monday, until it is reviewed and revised. Khattar informed me that he has instructed officials to ensure the hike does not take effect," Surya said.

"He (Khattar) also said he had called officials on Monday to explain the mistakes in the fare fixation," he added.

Stating that the issue is a "battle half won" until the state government initiates the process for a new FFC, the MP said, "We need to put pressure on the state government to constitute a new Fare Fixation Committee. The state government has the power to do so and should stop claiming the Centre has the authority."  According to the MoU between the state and central governments, the power to periodically revise fares lies with the state, he said, adding that "earlier too, it was at the insistence of the state that the Fare Fixation Committee was constituted, and the committee revised fares based on the state's request."  However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier told reporters that metro fares are fixed by the central government. "There is a committee in the central government, it is a Government of India-appointed committee; they handle fare revision," he said.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also in charge of Bengaluru Development, said he would discuss the matter with BMRCL authorities.

"They have not consulted us. They have the authority. The central government secretary is the Chairman of the Fare Fixation Committee, and he has made the decision," he said.

"After going to Bengaluru, I will discuss this with the concerned authorities. We don't want to trouble the people. I will look into the financial structure and what has happened," Shivakumar added.