Centre funded just over 10 pc of Metro project, invited PM out of respect: K'taka DyCM Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday claimed that the state government bore up to 90% of the cost for the Bengaluru Metro Rail project. His statement came just hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Yellow Line, with Shivakumar accusing the central government of neglecting Bengaluru's infrastructure needs.

Speaking to media persons at the RV Road Metro Station, Shivakumar said the state requested the Prime Minister to inaugurate the Yellow Line as a sign of respect, despite the minimal financial contribution from the Centre.

“Today Yellow Line has been inaugurated. 80 per cent of the project cost has been contributed by the State government and 20 per cent was borne by the BJP government at the Centre. In some places, the Centre has spent only 11 per cent,” Shivakumar said.

He accused the Centre of "fully neglect[ing] Karnataka," but said the state moved ahead with the project for the benefit of Bengaluru, a city he said generates the second-highest tax revenue in the country and creates over a hundred thousand jobs annually.

Battle Over Funding and Credit

The inauguration has ignited a political firestorm between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP over who deserves credit for the project. Shivakumar claimed that the Centre was supposed to fund 50% of the project but failed to provide the money. He also thanked corporate donors like Infosys and Biocon for their financial contributions to the Metro stations.

Taking a jab at local BJP MPs, Shivakumar said, "No MP gave a penny or any cooperation for the Metro Rail project in Bengaluru. It is a matter of shame for all the MPs of Karnataka.”

He challenged BJP leaders to release their statistics on funding, promising to present the state's own data to settle the dispute. The Deputy Chief Minister also claimed the Metro Rail project was initially started by former Congress Chief Minister S.M. Krishna when the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister, refuting claims that it was a recent initiative.

In a direct appeal to the Prime Minister, Shivakumar requested that PM Modi allocate ₹1 lakh crore for Bengaluru's infrastructure, similar to the grants given to Delhi. "I am requesting him not to ignore Bengaluru. Treat it like the national capital," he said.