In letter to PM Modi, Shivakumar flags Bengaluru road infra, pitches for Metro cost-sharing

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to share a greater financial burden of metro projects, approve the proposed Bengaluru Metro Red Line and address delays in project clearances.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister on November 13, Shivakumar said the financial burden of building and operating metro networks on states was disproportionately high despite the projects being implemented through a 50:50 partnership between the Centre and states.

"Since the state bears the entire cost of land acquisition, shifting of utilities, 50 per cent of Central taxes, 100 per cent of State taxes, and repayment of the entire foreign loan and most cost increases, our financial burden of building and running the metro is going beyond 80%," he said.

Shivakumar said Bengaluru, which he described as the country's fastest-growing metropolis, needed a metro network of at least 500 km. The state has set a target of expanding the network to 500 km over the next 10 years.

He called for time-bound approvals for metro projects, regular PRAGATI reviews and the Prime Minister's direct attention to delays in planning, approval and construction. He also said project approvals were often based on outdated detailed project report (DPR) costs, with subsequent cost escalations not being considered for the Centre's share.

The chief minister asked the Centre to adopt city-specific costing instead of using benchmark rates based on average metro costs across the country. He also sought central government support in sharing foreign-exchange risks on external loans and taking a share of metro operational losses.

With rising interest rates and a depreciating rupee making multilateral loans more expensive, Shivakumar urged the Centre to consider affordable, long-term loans in Indian rupees through national financial institutions.

He also called for the creation of a National Technical Institution for Metros under the Ministry of Urban Development to streamline inspections and safety certifications, which he said were causing delays.

Double-decker corridor, Red Line approval

The memorandum also sought permission to build double-decker infrastructure, with road flyovers beneath elevated metro lines, wherever technically feasible, safe and economically justified.

"Bengaluru city has a deficient road network. Only 8-9% of the city is covered by roads whereas a city needs at least 18-20% of its land covered by a road network. We had therefore planned double-decker infrastructure with road flyovers below elevated Metro lines to save expensive and limited land in Bengaluru," he said.

He added that Karnataka was willing to bear the additional cost of elevated roads under metro lines.

The chief minister also pressed for early approval of the Bengaluru Metro Red Line, connecting Sarjapur to Hebbal. The proposal was submitted to the Centre in January 2025 and subsequently revised with reduced costs, following the Centre's request, the letter said.

Describing the corridor as crucial for connecting major residential and employment centres and improving access to the airport, Shivakumar said approval was needed urgently to prevent further cost escalation and start construction.

Drought relief, sugarcane prices and Western Ghats

Beyond urban infrastructure, Shivakumar raised three other issues, including drought relief, sugarcane farmers' demands and concerns over the proposed eco-sensitive area notification for the Western Ghats.

He said Karnataka had received its second-lowest rainfall in 70 years, with 226 of the state's 240 taluks declared drought-affected. Nearly 58 lakh hectares of crops had suffered damage, with estimated losses of Rs 62,482 crore.

The state has sought Rs 22,400.58 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). Shivakumar urged the Centre to approve and release the assistance at the earliest.

On sugarcane prices, he said farmers in Karnataka were demanding Rs 5,500 per tonne against the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of Rs 3,650 for 2026-27. He also sought a revision in the minimum selling price (MSP) of sugar, which he said had remained at Rs 31 per kg since 2019.

The chief minister further urged the Centre to reconsider the draft notification identifying 20,668 sq km across 1,449 villages in 10 Karnataka districts as ecologically sensitive areas under the Kasturirangan Report.

While reiterating the need to protect forests and wildlife, he said the livelihoods of farmers and families in nearly 1,500 villages could be affected. He asked the Centre to consult Karnataka before proceeding with the notification.

Full Text: Shivakumar's Letter to PM Modi

Bengaluru Metro Pink Line inaugurated

The memorandum was submitted on a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 7.5-km elevated section of Bengaluru Metro's Pink Line, from Kalena Agrahara to Tavarekere, at a cost of around Rs 3,470 crore.

Modi and Shivakumar jointly flagged off the services and travelled on the metro. The chief minister also explained to the Prime Minister the advantages of the double-decker elevated corridor, which combines a metro line with a road flyover to ease traffic congestion.

The Pink Line has a total planned length of 21.25 km and 18 stations. The elevated section has six stations, while the remaining 12 stations on the underground stretch are still under construction. The newly inaugurated section is scheduled to open to the public from 6 am on November 14.