The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has made a decision to wrap its trains with advertisements in order to generate non-fare revenue. At present, only one train from the fleet has been wrapped with slogans and photographs highlighting the freedom struggle. The non-commercial wrapping was carried out in a span of 10 days at the cost of INR 8.5 lakh as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav programme to mark 75 years of independence in March 2022.
While metro corporations across other Indian cities have already implemented the decision in order to generate additional revenue, the BMRCL, which began operations in 2011, had opted out of doing so to maintain the original aesthetic of the trains. The Delhi metro has been allowing the wrapping of trains since 2014, while the Hyderabad metro had given rights to wrap the trains even prior to the commencement of metro operations in the city.
BMRCL owns 57 six-coach train sets that currently operate on the two (Purple and Green) lines. A tender is soon to be floated regarding the matter. BMRCL has made it clear that the windows of the trains will remain advertisement-free.
Revenue received from advertisements by the BMRCL saw a hit after the municipal body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) banned outdoor advertisements following a high court order in August 2018. BMRCL would make INR 10 crore on an annual basis by allowing advertisements on metro pillars and medians below viaducts. Considering that the BMRCL network has expanded significantly since 2018, the revenue through advertising on medians and metro pillars would be exponential. At present, the metro network stretches 73 km, with plans to expand it to 175 km by 2025–26 and 317 km by 2031.
