Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday urged the Union government to give Bengaluru infrastructure development the same priority as Delhi.
He also called for a fairer distribution of financial responsibilities between the Centre and the state for Metro projects.
Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Metro inauguration programme at IIM Bangalore, Shivakumar requested early clearance for pending projects.
He outlined the state’s ambition to expand Bengaluru’s operational Metro network of 103 km to 500 km.
“Let us compete in politics, but cooperate in development,” he said, emphasising the importance of joint efforts for national progress.
Shivakumar said the existing 50:50 funding arrangement placed a greater financial burden on Karnataka. The state also bears expenses related to land acquisition, foreign loan repayments and applicable taxes.
He sought lower interest rates on loans from nationalised banks and equal responsibility for additional expenses arising from project delays and operational losses.
The Chief Minister also highlighted delays in approvals for projects, including the proposed Red Line. He asked PM Modi to direct the concerned departments to expedite revised detailed project reports.
Shivakumar proposed establishing a specialised technical institution to assess Metro projects and accelerate approvals across Indian cities.
He said expanding Bengaluru’s Metro network to 500 km could reduce traffic congestion by 50 per cent.
CM Seeks Drought Relief and Assistance for Farmers
The Chief Minister informed Modi that 226 of Karnataka’s 240 taluks had been declared drought-affected.
He said rainfall had reached its lowest level in 70 years, affecting approximately 85 lakh hectares of farmland.
He estimated agricultural losses at ₹62,000 crore and said Karnataka had sought ₹22,000 crore through the National Disaster Response Fund.
Shivakumar requested an early release of assistance and proposed bringing an all-party delegation to discuss farmers’ difficulties.
He also raised sugarcane growers’ demand for ₹5,500 per tonne and sought better ethanol allocation for Karnataka.
Karnataka Highlights Its Industrial and Technology Contribution
Shivakumar highlighted Bengaluru’s role in artificial intelligence, startups, chip design, research and defence manufacturing.
He said Karnataka continued to contribute significantly to India’s economic and technological development.
Also Read: PM Modi Says Middle-Class Savings And Bengaluru’s Infrastructure Drive Remain Centre’s Priorities
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