D.K. Shivakumar seeks fairer Centre-state Metro cost sharing in Bengaluru
· India · The Hindu, News18
Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to share operational cash losses and foreign exchange risks from Metro external loans, stating Karnataka bears over 80% of project costs despite a proposed 50:50 partnership. He submitted a memorandum during the Pink Line inauguration at IIM Bangalore, citing land acquisition, state taxes and loan repayments as additional state burdens. Shivakumar requested urgent clearance for the stalled Red Line Phase 3A, pending nearly two years, and sought permission for double-decker infrastructure where technically feasible. He also demanded project cost estimates reflect actual city conditions instead of uniform national averages.
Why it matters
The financial dispute directly impacts Bengaluru's Metro expansion pace, affecting commuters, state finances and intergovernmental trust, with Karnataka seeking equitable cost burden-sharing to accelerate Phase 3A construction.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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