Commuters Cut Down on Namma Metro Use Amid Rising Travel Costs, Switch to Two-Wheelers

A growing number of daily commuters in Bengaluru are beginning to reduce their dependence on Namma Metro services, citing rising travel costs and the additional expense of travelling between metro stations and their homes or workplaces as key reasons for the shift.

While the metro continues to remain a time-saving option across major corridors, many office-goers who earlier relied on the metro for regular travel now say that the overall cost of commuting has increased once they factor in the money spent on autos, bike taxis or cabs to complete their journey after getting down at the station.

For residents travelling along busy office routes such as Whitefield, Marathahalli and Indiranagar, the combined cost of metro fare and last-mile transport has led to a change in daily travel choices. Several commuters are opting to use their personal two-wheelers instead, allowing them to travel directly without depending on additional modes of transport.

Traffic police officials have observed that the number of two-wheelers on city roads appears to have increased in recent months, particularly during peak office hours. Vehicle queues in key IT corridors have grown longer, even during non-peak periods, indicating a possible shift in commuting patterns.

Students and young professionals are also increasingly relying on bikes to manage daily expenses. With education costs and accommodation charges already adding financial pressure, avoiding multiple travel payments has become a priority for many.

As concerns over Namma Metro fares continue to influence daily commuting choices, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Tejasvi Surya has also weighed in on the issue. In a post on social media, he said that reliable and affordable public transport remains the only practical solution to Bengaluru's traffic congestion.

"When metro fares become irrational, citizens are forced back to private vehicles, bringing it back to square one," he wrote. Surya further stated that instead of investing in large infrastructure projects such as the proposed tunnel road, the State government should prioritise efficient mass mobility systems aimed at transporting more people.

He also called for the constitution of a new Fare Fixation Committee to ensure commuter-friendly metro pricing that takes public interest into account.