The current 47 per cent enhance in Bengaluru Metro fares from February 9 has supplied a much-needed monetary enhance to BMRCL, however at the price of declining ridership. Whereas the fare hike has considerably elevated income, many commuters have opted for different modes of transport, resulting in a drop in every day passenger numbers.
Earlier than the fare revision, Bengaluru Metro generated round Rs 2 crore every day from operations. Within the three days following the hike, earnings have surged. On February 9, income touched Rs 3 crore, in comparison with the same old Rs 2 crore. By February 12, every day earnings had almost doubled, reaching Rs 3.91 crore. Over the previous three days, Metro’s every day income has elevated by roughly Rs 1.5 crore.
Regardless of the income surge, BMRCL continues to face monetary challenges. The company has been struggling to repay loans taken for Phases 1 and a pair of of the metro venture. With annual losses ranging between Rs 400-500 crore attributable to excessive operational prices, Bengaluru Metro has been in a monetary crunch. The fare hike was launched as a measure to stabilise funds and guarantee long-term sustainability.
Nonetheless, the elevated fares have pushed commuters away. Many every day metro customers have switched to BMTC buses or private automobiles, resulting in a noticeable decline in ridership. Bengaluru Metro, which usually information 8.5-9 lakh every day passengers, has seen a discount of 20,000 to 30,000 commuters per day.
On February 11, Sunday, ridership dropped to 7.75 lakh passengers, reflecting a transparent decline. The development continued on February 12, Monday, with solely 8.04 lakh passengers utilizing the metro, marking a major dip from regular numbers. Whereas BMRCL has gained in income, the affect of shedding a phase of standard passengers stays a priority.
