HYDERABAD: BRS MLAs from the city on Saturday demanded an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the Metro Rail fare hikes, calling the increase in ticket prices a “cruel economic burden” on the city’s poor and middle-class commuters.
The BRS MLAs argued that the fare hike would adversely affect lakhs of daily passengers — including students, employees, and daily wage workers — who rely on the Metro Rail for affordable and reliable transport. The fare revision could lead to an additional monthly burden of at least `500 to `600 per person, they said.
In a letter to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, the 11 city BRS MLAs said: “Hyderabad, one of the fastest-growing cities in India, deserves a robust, subsidized public transportation system — not one designed for private profit.” Global cities, such as Singapore, Berlin, and Tokyo, ensure their public transport remains accessible through government subsidies, they added.
The letter warned of worsening traffic and pollution if metro commuters shift to road transport due to unaffordable fares. The letter was signed by BRS legislators Talasani Srinivas Yadav, Sabitha Indra Reddy, T. Padma Rao Goud, Maganti Gopinath, K.P. Vivekanand, D. Sudheer Reddy, M. Krishna Rao, Muta Gopal, Kaleru Venkatesh, Bandaru Lakshma Reddy, and Marri Rajasekhar Reddy.
