India, Feb. 10 -- Metro travel in Bengaluru is set to become significantly costlier as the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has increased fares by up to 50% from Sunday, officials aware of the matter said.

The decision follows recommendations by the fare fixation committee and has drawn sharp criticism from commuters and political leaders. Many argue that the hike makes public transport less accessible and discourages its use.

According to the revised fare structure, the maximum fare has been increased from Rs.60 to Rs.90, and the minimum balance required on smart cards has risen from Rs.50 to Rs.90. The new fares are as follows: Rs.10 for travel up to 2 km, Rs.20 for 2-4 km, Rs.30 for 4-6 km, Rs.40 for 6-8 km, Rs.50 for...