Centre and Karnataka government clash over Bengaluru Metro funding
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a new Pink Line stretch on Friday amid a dispute over project costs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate a new elevated stretch of the Bengaluru Metro Pink Line at Sadashivanagar Metro station on Friday, November 13, according to reports from The Federal and Urban Acres. The visit comes as the Karnataka state government and the Centre engage in a dispute regarding the financial contributions for the Namma Metro project.
The Karnataka government, led by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, claims it is covering 83.8 per cent of the total cost for Metro Phases 1, 2, 2A, 2B and the proposed Phase 3. Based on a total project cost of Rs 77,891 crore, the state says it is providing Rs 65,291 crore, while the Centre contributes Rs 12,600 crore.
Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda stated the state is responsible for costs including land procurement, resettlement, state taxes, construction interest, loan servicing, and operational losses. He noted the state's share rose from 79.2 per cent in Phase 1 to 86.9 per cent in Phases 2A and 2B.
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya rejected these figures, alleging the state is incorrectly counting Rs 28,958 crore in foreign loans as its own contribution. Surya argued that because the Centre provides sovereign guarantees for these loans, the Centre's commitment should be calculated at Rs 41,558 crore, or 53.35 per cent.
Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai added that loan repayments are made through passenger ticket revenue rather than directly from government treasuries. Following the metro launch, the Prime Minister is scheduled to lay foundation stones for development projects worth Rs 15,600 crore in Karnataka.