PM Modi Meets Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar; Bengaluru’s ₹26,000-Crore Wish List Tops 18-Point Demand Charter
New Delhi/Bengaluru, June 11: With Bengaluru’s infrastructure needs taking centre stage, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and submitted an 18-point charter seeking central assistance for key projects across the state, including a ₹26,000-crore special package for Bengaluru, metro expansion, suburban rail connectivity and approval for the Bengaluru Satellite Town Ring Road project.
During the meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, Shivakumar urged the Prime Minister to support Karnataka’s major irrigation, infrastructure, transport, energy and healthcare projects, while highlighting Bengaluru’s contribution to the national economy.
Among the biggest demands was a special central grant of ₹26,000 crore for Bengaluru to strengthen urban infrastructure and address the challenges arising from the city’s rapid growth.
The Chief Minister also sought early approval for the long-pending Bengaluru Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR) project. Though the project received approval from the Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) on January 1, 2025, final clearance from the Union Cabinet is still awaited.
Shivakumar requested the Centre to expedite funding and approvals for multiple Bengaluru transport projects, including the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project, Bengaluru-Mumbai High-Speed Rail Corridor, and the proposed Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) connecting Bengaluru with Mysuru, Kanakapura, Tumakuru, Chikkaballapur and Kolar.
The Chief Minister also pressed for approval of BMRCL Phase-3, which includes a 37.12-km metro corridor integrated with a double-decker flyover at an estimated cost of ₹9,700 crore. Karnataka has offered to bear the project cost and has sought speedy approval from the Centre.
In addition, he requested approval for the revised cost estimates of Namma Metro Phase-2, whose expenditure has increased from ₹26,405 crore to ₹40,425 crore, and sought early clearance for Phase-3A, the proposed 37.8-km underground corridor between Sarjapur and Hebbal.
Apart from Bengaluru-focused demands, Shivakumar sought central support for several irrigation and river-linking projects, including the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, Krishna Upper Bhadra Project, Kalasa-Banduri Nala Project, and other pending irrigation schemes worth more than ₹11,000 crore.
The Chief Minister urged the Centre to release the ₹5,300 crore assistance announced for the Upper Bhadra Project in the Union Budget and sought notification of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal award to facilitate implementation of irrigation projects.
On regional development, he requested an annual ₹25,000 crore special financial package for Kalyana Karnataka under Article 371(J) of the Constitution.
Shivakumar also appealed for the establishment of an AIIMS in Raichur, stating that the institution would significantly improve healthcare facilities and accelerate development in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region.
The memorandum further sought the release of ₹2,860 crore pending under the 15th Finance Commission grants for gram panchayats and expedited clearances for national highway, renewable energy and river-linking projects.
The meeting comes at a time when Karnataka is pushing for faster infrastructure expansion in Bengaluru while simultaneously seeking greater central support for irrigation, regional development and healthcare initiatives across the state. :::
About the Author
