The legislators argued that each day lakhs of passengers relied on the Metro for affordable and reliable transportation.
In a strongly worded open letter addressed to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, 11 BRS MLAs from Hyderabad vehemently opposed the recent hike in Hyderabad Metro Rail ticket prices, describing it as a "cruel economic burden" on the city's poor and middle-class commuters.
The legislators demanded that the Congress government immediately withdraw the hike, arguing that each day lakhs of passengers - including students, employees and daily wage workers - relied on the metro for affordable and reliable transportation.
The fare revision, which reportedly increased ticket prices by Rs 10 to Rs 20, could result in an additional monthly burden of Rs 500 to Rs 600 per person, they said.
"Hyderabad, one of the fastest-growing cities in India, deserves a robust, subsidised public transportation system - not one designed for private profits," the letter read. Citing international examples including Singapore, Berlin and Tokyo, the MLAs argued that global cities ensured that their public transport systems remained accessible through government subsidies.
The MLAs alleged that rising fuel and essential commodity prices under the current administration had already stretched household budgets. The additional Metro fare hike, they said, would further strain struggling families.
Referring to experiences in Karnataka, the MLAs said that the Congress government there too had implemented a steep 100% hike in Metro fares, which reportedly led to a 13% drop in ridership. "Under public pressure, even the Karnataka CM was forced to intervene and reverse the decision," they pointed out.
The MLAs also warned of worsening traffic congestion and pollution if Metro commuters shifted to road transport due to unaffordable fares.
"This isn't just a financial issue - it's about sustainable urban mobility, too," the legislators argued.
They also criticised the government's failure to expand Metro connectivity to underserved routes, and accused it of turning public transport into a profit-seeking venture. "Your government is making announcements about Metro expansion while failing to operate the existing system efficiently. The people of Hyderabad are watching and laughing," they said.
The MLAs warned the government that unless the fare hike was rolled back unconditionally, the Congress would face severe backlash from the people of Hyderabad.
The letter was signed by MLAs Talasani Srinivas Yadav, Sabitha Indra Reddy, T Padma Rao Goud, Maganti Gopinath, K P Vivekanand, D Sudheer Reddy, M Krishna Rao, Mutha Gopal, Kaleru Venkatesh, Bandaru Lakshma Reddy and Marri Rajasekhar Reddy.