Latest news with #D.K.Shivakumar
New Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Karnataka seeks Rs 1.5 lakh crore Central aid for Bengaluru's global city transformation
BENGALURU: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide Rs 1.5 lakh crore in central funding for a series of infrastructure projects aimed at transforming Bengaluru into a global city. In a letter submitted to the Prime Minister, who was in Bengaluru to inaugurate the Namma Metro's Yellow Line and other projects, Shivakumar cited the city's role as India's technology hub and second-largest tax contributor, while highlighting urgent challenges from rapid urbanisation, including traffic congestion, water scarcity, and waste management. The proposed projects include two urban tunnels and elevated corridors on erstwhile national highways (Rs 41,780 crore), arterial road corridors (Rs 15,000 crore), the Rs 27,000 crore Peripheral Ring Road, four integrated solid waste management plants (Rs 3,200 crore), and metro extensions covering 128 km. The Deputy Chief Minister also sought the Centre's support for the construction of double-decker elevated roads along upcoming metro viaducts (Rs 28,916 crore), 300 km of roads along stormwater drains (Rs 3,000 crore), and the sixth phase of the Cauvery Water Supply Scheme (Rs 6,939 crore). Shivakumar further proposed the introduction of a Rapid Rail Transit System for four corridors around Bengaluru, modelled on the Delhi–Meerut network, to link satellite towns and ease urban congestion. He appealed for funding on par with Delhi to ensure sustainable infrastructure, economic growth, and an improved quality of life for over 12 million residents.
United News of India
5 hours ago
- Business
- United News of India
PM Modi flags off 3 Vande Bharat trains, launches RV Road-Bommasandra yellow metro line in Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Aug 10 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the long-awaited Yellow Line of Namma Metro, connecting RV Road to Bommasandra, and flagged off three Vande Bharat Express trains, including the extended Bengaluru–Belagavi service, marking a significant day for Karnataka's transport infrastructure. The 19.15-km Yellow Line corridor, conceived in the 2011 Detailed Project Report prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, has faced multiple delays since construction began in 2017. Initially targeted for completion in December 2021, the project was hindered by land acquisition hurdles, the COVID-19 pandemic, and supply delays from Chinese rolling stock manufacturer CRRC Nanjing. Designed to serve eight lakh commuters along the Electronics City corridor, the new metro line aims to significantly ease road congestion—especially at the notoriously clogged Silk Board junction. However, the initial rollout has faced criticism due to limited operational capacity, with only three train sets available and resulting 25-minute intervals between services. Commuters have expressed frustration, describing the inauguration as largely symbolic given the insufficient frequency. The event unfolded amid a charged political atmosphere. At Ragigudda Metro Station, Congress supporters raised slogans in support of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who emphasized that the Metro project is a collaborative effort between the state and union governments—not the property of any single political party. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy accused BJP leaders, including State unit chief B.S. Yediyurappa and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, of portraying the project as solely a Central government initiative. Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge highlighted that the state had contributed over Rs12,000 crore—including land acquisition costs—and accused the BJP of 'hijacking credit.' Alongside the metro inauguration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the extended Belagavi–Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express, which will operate six days a week, departing Belagavi at 5:20 a.m. and arriving in Bengaluru by 1:50 p.m. The return journey will commence at 2:20 p.m. This service is expected to enhance connectivity between Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Davangere, Haveri, Hubballi, Dharwad, and Belagavi. Additionally, two other Vande Bharat services,Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra–Amritsar and Nagpur (Ajni)–Pune were also launched. Security was tightened at key venues, including Ragigudda Metro Station and the IAF Training Command headquarters. Bengaluru Traffic Police enforced restrictions on major routes from 8.30 am. to 2.30 pm., though disruption was minimal as the Prime Minister travelled mainly by helicopter and Metro between venues. The day's events marked both an infrastructural milestone for Bengaluru and a flashpoint in Karnataka's political rivalry, with competing claims over credit overshadowing the delayed but significant launch. UNI BDN AAB
India.com
8 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
As PM Modi Inaugurates Namma Metro, Karnataka Govt Highlights Contribution Hinting At Credit War
BENGALURU: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Sunday that the state's contribution to Bengaluru's Namma Metro was 80 per cent while that of the Centre was only 20 per cent. Speaking to reporters at his Sadashivanagar residence, he said, "I will appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide at least Rs 1 lakh crore for Bengaluru. The Centre was supposed to bear 50 per cent of the land acquisition cost for the Metro project but it hasn't given. However, we completed the project in the interest of the city. Though Bengaluru is the second highest tax contributor, it gets very little in return." "Ahmedabad is given 20 per cent of the tax devolution while Bengaluru gets only 10 per cent. Bengaluru needs to be treated on par with other large cities in the country like Delhi. We are not doing politics over this, we are only appealing," Shivakumar added. BJP hasn't brought even Rs 10 as funds for Karnataka, he chided. "BJP claims it has done everything. No BJP MP has even got Rs 10 as funds for Bengaluru. They should be ashamed of themselves. The Union Jal Shakti Minister has been responsive at times to our requests. Even MGNREGA funds haven't been released," the Deputy Chief Minister said. "Some BJP MPs think that tweeting and media coverage amounts to achievement. MPs must keep aside politics and PR and work for the welfare of the people," he said, while lashing out at the BJP MPs from the city. "The Centre has completely neglected Karnataka and hasn't released any funds. We have invited the Prime Minister out of respect for the post. We have implemented innovative double-decker project which can be a model for other Metros," he added. "Bengaluru generates one lakh new IT jobs every year. The Metro Yellow line will benefit the IT corridor. Electronic City flyover was also completed at the time of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh," Shivakumar told. Asked about BJP's comments that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's contribution to Metro phase 2 and 3, the Deputy Chief Minister said, "There is no contribution. All this started during former Chief Minister late S.M. Krishna and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure. Let them (Union government) release the data on their contribution, I will release the numbers too." "I would like to thank Infosys Delta, Biocon and other companies, who contributed to building the Metro Yellow line stations," Shivakumar concluded.
Hans India
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
State's contribution for Namma Metro is 80 pc while Centre's is 20 pc: K'taka Dy CM
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Sunday that the state's contribution to Bengaluru's Namma Metro was 80 per cent while that of the Centre was only 20 per cent. Speaking to reporters at his Sadashivanagar residence, he said, "I will appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide at least Rs 1 lakh crore for Bengaluru. The Centre was supposed to bear 50 per cent of the land acquisition cost for the Metro project but it hasn't given. However, we completed the project in the interest of the city. Though Bengaluru is the second highest tax contributor, it gets very little in return." "Ahmedabad is given 20 per cent of the tax devolution while Bengaluru gets only 10 per cent. Bengaluru needs to be treated on par with other large cities in the country like Delhi. We are not doing politics over this, we are only appealing," Shivakumar added. BJP hasn't brought even Rs 10 as funds for Karnataka, he chided. "BJP claims it has done everything. No BJP MP has even got Rs 10 as funds for Bengaluru. They should be ashamed of themselves. The Union Jal Shakti Minister has been responsive at times to our requests. Even MGNREGA funds haven't been released," the Deputy Chief Minister said. "Some BJP MPs think that tweeting and media coverage amounts to achievement. MPs must keep aside politics and PR and work for the welfare of the people," he said, while lashing out at the BJP MPs from the city. "The Centre has completely neglected Karnataka and hasn't released any funds. We have invited the Prime Minister out of respect for the post. We have implemented innovative double-decker project which can be a model for other Metros," he added. "Bengaluru generates one lakh new IT jobs every year. The Metro Yellow line will benefit the IT corridor. Electronic City flyover was also completed at the time of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh," Shivakumar told. Asked about BJP's comments that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's contribution to Metro phase 2 and 3, the Deputy Chief Minister said, "There is no contribution. All this started during former Chief Minister late S.M. Krishna and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure. Let them (Union government) release the data on their contribution, I will release the numbers too." "I would like to thank Infosys Delta, Biocon and other companies, who contributed to building the Metro Yellow line stations," Shivakumar concluded.
Hans India
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
PM Modi purchases Metro ticket, flags off Yellow Line Services in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Yellow Line Metro services at the R.V. Road (Ragigudda) Metro Station on Sunday, which connects Bengaluru's Central District to the tech hub, Electronics City. He also purchased a ticket by scanning the QR code at the Metro station before entering the platform. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and officials from Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) briefed PM Modi about the project at the premises. Later, the Prime Minister flagged off the Metro train at the station. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister Manohar Lal, Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and Bengaluru Rural BJP MP C.N. Manjunath were present on the occasion. Thousands of people gathered at the R.V. Road (Ragigudda) Metro Station despite the rain to catch a glimpse of the Prime Minister. The crowd raised slogans in his favour and showered flowers on his vehicle. The Prime Minister acknowledged the crowd by waving back at them. PM Modi will also take a ride on the newly inaugurated 19.15 km Yellow Line Metro. He will travel along the route with 16 girl students from a government school and eight labourers who worked on the project. The journey will pass through 16 Metro stations, ending at the Bommanahalli Metro Station in Bengaluru. From Bommanahalli, he will proceed to the IIIT Auditorium in Electronics City to lay the foundation stone for Phase 3 of the Metro project. He will also formally inaugurate the Yellow Line Metro services again there. BJP National Yuva Morcha President and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya said in Bengaluru that the Prime Minister is dedicating two significant projects to the people of the city. 'He is laying the foundation stone for Phase 3 of the Metro. Once the services begin, around 10 lakh people will commute by Metro every day. Similarly, the Yellow Line Metro, which will be inaugurated today, will benefit 18 lakh people in the Bengaluru South region,' Surya said. 'I had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the Yellow Line Metro Project in Bengaluru. The Prime Minister maintained that any further delay in inaugurating these projects was not acceptable, as the Metro services would provide relief to the people of Bengaluru suffering from traffic congestion. He fixed the inauguration date within a period of just seven to eight days,' Surya added. 'I congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of the people of Bengaluru and Karnataka,' he said.
