At the foundation-laying ceremony for Phase 3 of Bengaluru’s Namma Metro, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made a pointed remark about the state’s financial commitment to the project, stating that the Karnataka government has contributed more funds than the Union government. Speaking on stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance, the CM stressed that the state’s share in the metro’s development far outweighed the Centre’s, underscoring the need for equal partnership in funding such large-scale urban infrastructure projects.
According to Siddaramaiah, Karnataka has shouldered a significant portion of the expenditure on the metro, particularly in the ongoing Yellow Line works, which aim to ease traffic congestion and improve public transport connectivity in the city. His comments echoed similar statements from Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, who claimed the state has borne nearly 80% of the costs while the Centre’s contribution stands at about 20%.
The remarks came during a politically charged moment, with both state and central leaders keen to highlight their respective roles in the metro’s expansion. While the Prime Minister highlighted the Centre’s vision for modern transport infrastructure, Siddaramaiah used the occasion to call for more balanced funding support from the Union government.
The Namma Metro project, seen as crucial for Bengaluru’s growing commuter needs, has long been a point of contention between the state and central governments over credit and cost-sharing. With Phase 3 set to significantly expand the network and improve last-mile connectivity, the funding debate is likely to remain a hot topic in Karnataka’s political discourse.