BMRCL Raises Metro Fines up to Rs 25,000 to Deter Track Trespassing

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has sharply increased penalties for passenger offenses and track trespassing across the Namma Metro network in 2026, following a series of dangerous track incidents at stations including Kengeri, Jalahalli, Attiguppe, Doddakallasandra, Baiyappanahalli, Majestic, and Kempegowda. The revised fines, implemented under the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, aim to deter dangerous behavior and improve passenger safety.

The safety crackdown comes after multiple incidents of track intrusion and suicide attempts across several stations. In December 2025, a 35-year-old man died after jumping onto the tracks at Kengeri. Earlier incidents included a 23-year-old who attempted suicide at Jalahalli in January 2024, a 19-year-old student who died at Attiguppe in March 2024, and a 35-year-old man who died at Doddakallasandra in August 2024.

Other dangerous events occurred at Baiyappanahalli, where a former Air Force serviceman jumped onto the tracks in January 2025, and a four-year-old boy accidentally fell onto the tracks in August 2024 before being rescued. Additionally, an attempted suicide was reported at Majestic in August 2025, and another passenger was rescued at Kempegowda station in October 2025.

To prevent such occurrences and maintain order, the BMRCL has brought tougher penalties into force through amendments to the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act. Under the new rules, the fine for eating inside Metro trains, carrying objectionable material, and playing loud music has risen to Rs. 2,500, marking a 400 percent increase from the previous Rs. 500.

The penalty for staging protests inside the Metro network has increased tenfold, rising from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 10,000. Passengers who stay unauthorized inside Metro stations will now face a fine of Rs. 5,000, which is a 1,900 percent hike from the earlier penalty of Rs. 250.

Additionally, damaging signboards, ticket tampering, or counterfeiting will now attract a penalty of Rs. 25,000. The fine for defacing signboards has also jumped 9,900 percent from the previous Rs. 250.