Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 28: Karnataka BJP legislators met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday, urging him to roll back the metro fare hike and allocate more funds for Bengaluru’s development.

The meeting took place at the CM’s official residence, Cauvery, where Siddaramaiah assured the legislators that discussions would be held with officials to reconsider the fare revision.

“The state government has already written to the Centre and Metro authorities, requesting the withdrawal of the unscientific fare hike,” the Chief Minister’s Office stated.

State BJP president B Y Vijayendra told reporters that the party has urged Siddaramaiah to appeal for the formation of a new price fixation committee to review the fare hike. “The increased metro fare has burdened commuters, leading to higher traffic congestion in Bengaluru,” he said.

Bengaluru South MP and National Yuva Morcha president Tejasvi Surya, along with Bengaluru Central MP P C Mohan, also suggested measures to reduce metro fares.

Additionally, BJP legislators demanded a Rs 100 cr allocation in the state budget for the development of Bengaluru and their respective constituencies.

Vijayendra also pressed for immediate BBMP elections, criticizing the Congress-led government’s proposal to split the civic body, calling it a “mischievous” move.

He further took a jibe at the CM, stating that when the government is struggling to fund its guarantee schemes, spending crores on official residences is unjustifiable.