Bengaluru metro trains wrapped in advertisements to boost revenue, commuters say 'ruined the look'
In a bid to enhance its non-fare revenue, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has begun wrapping its metro trains in advertisements, a move that's drawing both commercial interest and commuter criticism.
The corporation has signed two long-term contracts granting exclusive advertising rights on its two major corridors, Moneycontrol reported. Mudra Ventures will handle ad placements on the Purple Line, while Lokesh Outdoor will manage the Green Line.
Both agreements span seven years and are expected to bring in a minimum of ₹25 crore per year the report further added.
(Also Read: Bengaluru's Namma Metro hits nearly 10 lakh footfalls in a day amid RCB celebrations)
According to reports, officials said the initiative is part of BMRCL's broader strategy to diversify revenue streams beyond ticket sales. However, the move comes on the heels of a steep fare hike of up to 71 per cent, announced earlier this year, a decision that had already sparked public discontent.
Now, the train wraps are drawing renewed backlash, particularly over the way they cover train windows. Passengers have voiced concerns that the ads block views to the outside and compromise visibility within the train, raising potential security issues.
'It's fine to monetise trains through advertising, but what is this revenue really funding?' a commuter questioned on social media. 'Why haven't platform screen doors been installed at every station for passenger safety? And why are so many stations still lacking escalators?'
A popular account on X (formerly Twitter), Bangalore Metro Updates (@WF_Watcher), posted a sharp critique, 'Ruined the look of the trains in ONE go! I remember reading the windows wouldn't be covered with ads – but of course, they went ahead and did it anyway. In the end, money talks. This also creates a security concern, since the view inside the train is now blocked, making it harder for security to monitor!'
Another commuter said,'The first ever commercials to add more revenue. Great to see. Can we expect a slash in ticket price? Please.'
(Also Read: Is Karnataka govt considering moving Chinnaswamy stadium out of Bengaluru's CBD? Here's what CM Siddaramaiah said)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
3 hours ago
- Business Standard
Pine Labs CFO Marc Mathenz steps down ahead of $1 billion IPO listing
Marc Mathenz, Group Chief Financial Officer of Pine Labs, is set to leave the company in the coming weeks, Moneycontrol reported. His resignation comes at a critical juncture, as the fintech firm prepares to file its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) ahead of a planned initial public offering (IPO) later this year. Based in Singapore, Mathenz has cited personal reasons for his departure, the report noted. He joined Pine Labs in 2021 and has since overseen group-level finance operations, playing a pivotal role in the company's expansion across the Asia-Pacific region. Mathenz had succeeded Sameer Maheshwary, who served as CFO for over six years before transitioning to a new role within the company. Maheshwary currently serves as Senior Vice President of Capital Markets, where he has led Pine Labs' capital-raising initiatives. According to a source cited by Moneycontrol, he has 'pretty much led all of the IPO work'. There is no official announcement yet on Mathenz's successor. Fintech targets $1 billion IPO in late 2025 Pine Labs aims to go public on Indian stock exchanges in the second half of 2025, with plans to raise around $1 billion through a mix of fresh capital and secondary share sales, Reuters reported earlier this year. Backed by Peak XV Partners, Pine Labs provides integrated payment solutions, including point-of-sale systems for merchants. It operates in the same sector as fintech heavyweights Paytm and PhonePe. Backers and valuation details Pine Labs was last valued at $5 billion after a 2022 funding round. Major investors include PayPal, Mastercard, and Singapore's Temasek. Chief Executive Officer Amrish Rau told Reuters that the company is broadening its revenue streams by developing technology solutions for banks, corporates, and other fintech firms.
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
KUSUM-C scheme inaugurated by Siddaramaiah
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday announced that farmers would be provided with a reliable seven-hour power supply during the daytime through the KUSUM-C scheme. He was talking at the inauguration of the scheme at Gauribidanur. He also inaugurated the solar unit set up by the Department of Energy and Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) at Hanumenahalli in Thondebavi hobli. 'The primary objective of the KUSUM-C scheme is to provide reliable daytime electricity to farmers,' he said. He added, 'Under the KUSUM-C scheme, 389 electricity supply substations in our State are being solarised. Solar units with a capacity of 2,396 megawatts (MW) will power 1,555 agricultural feeders with solar electricity. As a result, 6,32,794 agricultural pump sets will receive solar power. This will not only provide quality electricity to farmers during the daytime but also reduce power wastage.' He also noted that after his government came to power, the power generation had increased. 'We have generated 4,000 MW of electricity. Currently, we can produce 35,000 MW, and a plan has been formulated to increase this to 60,000 MW by 2030,' he said. He said that while ₹19,000 crore subsidy is being provided for agricultural pump sets, it will not be stopped under any circumstances. Prepaid smart meters in government offices Energy Minister K.J. George, speaking during the event, announced that the State was considering the installation of prepaid smart meters in government offices as part of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme. He explained that the Central government offers a 60% subsidy for energy infrastructure development, along with ₹900 per smart meter.
Scroll.in
8 hours ago
- Scroll.in
Rush Hour: Congress questions Modi on security, US and China agree to reduce trade tensions & more
We're building a brand-new studio to bring you bold ground reports, sharp interviews, hard-hitting podcasts, explainers and more. Support Scroll's studio fund today. The Congress has asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will allow a full debate in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament about India's security and foreign policy challenges following the Pahalgam terror attack. The session will be held from July 21 to August 12. The Congress' demand came a day after Modi met with members of Indian delegations comprising former diplomats and MPs who visited 32 countries in recent weeks to convey India's position on cross-border terrorism from Pakistan. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh urged the prime minister to convene meetings with leaders of all political parties to build consensus on India's strategy regarding China and Pakistan, especially in the light of recent statements by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan in Singapore. Ramesh was referring to Chauhan's comments to Bloomberg which were viewed by some as an acknowledgement of the Indian Air Force having lost aircraft during Operation Sindoor. Read on. The United States and China have agreed on a framework to de-escalate trade tensions and remove restrictions on exports of rare earth minerals imposed by Beijing on Washington DC. However, the specifics of the framework are unclear. The development comes nearly a month after both countries agreed to suspend tariffs on each other's goods for 90 days, following talks in Geneva. The agreement had faltered due to China's continued curbs on critical minerals exports. Washington had responded with curbs that prevented shipments of semiconductor design software, aircraft and other goods to China. Speaking to reporters after two days of discussions in London, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that the current framework reached with Beijing puts 'meat on the bones' of the May 12 agreement in Geneva to ease bilateral retaliatory tariffs. Read on. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced that a fresh caste survey will be conducted in the state, amid concerns about accuracy of the data. The new enumeration exercise will be conducted to address claims from several communities that they were excluded or underrepresented in the survey. In April, the Socio-Economic and Educational Survey report prepared by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes was accepted by the Cabinet. The data for this survey was collected by the commission in 2015, during Siddaramaiah's previous tenure as chief minister. The findings had drawn criticism from politicians who claimed that the data did not represent the diverse caste composition of the state. Besides, the Vokkaligas and Veerashaiva-Lingayats, Karnataka's two dominant communities, had objected to the findings, demanding that the report be scrapped. Read on. The temperature of new air-conditioners in India will be standardised not to go below 20 degrees Celsius and above 28 degrees Celsius, said Union Minister of Power Manohar Lal Khattar. He said that this 'new experiment' would be implemented in all sectors, including vehicles, amid rising temperatures due to climate change and the increasing use of cooling systems. However, he did not specify when the new mandate would come into effect. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency has estimated that increasing an air-conditioner temperature setting by just 1 degree Celsius can reduce electricity usage by up to 6%. Read on.
