Metro Misses the Mark? Tejasvi Surya Calls Out BMRCL’s Shortcomings

Image Source: The Economic Times

Key Developments:
1. BJP lawmaker Tejasvi Surya has taken on the Bengaluru Metro in full force, accusing the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) of a bad design, astronomical fares, and an anti-commuter vision.
2. Surya unfavorably compared the Namma Metro with the Moscow Metro, pointing to its 80-second interval of trains, the aesthetic look of its stations, and the low fare as standards Bengaluru should strive for.
3. He said that the public transport system must show ambition, beauty, and courtesy to the commuter—something Bengaluru's system lacks, in his opinion.

Fare Transparency Under Fire:
- Surya demanded the Fare Fixation Committee report to be published forthwith, questioning why the report is not published even though public interest continues.
- He contended that the fare increase cannot be justified without transparency, adding that the public should know how the pricing is being conducted.

Global Standards as a Blueprint: - The MP requested BMRCL to adopt international best practices, particularly from metro cities like Moscow, whose metro systems are not just efficient but also culturally enriching.

- He also emphasized that the public transport must be the most cost-effective and least-expensive mode of transport for intracity travel, particularly in a fast-growing city like Bengaluru.

Governance Context: - BMRCL is a 50:50 joint venture of the Central and Karnataka governments, and it is governed by the Metro Railways (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2002. Despite this setup, Surya maintains that vision and accountability need not suffer.

Sources: Economic Times, Hindustan Times, Asianet Newsable, MSN India