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On Sunday, Bangalore South MP and BJP leader Tejasvi Surya claimed that the Union govt had taken Metro connectivity in the city from just 7km in 2014 to over 100km in 2026. “Across all approved phases of Bengaluru Metro — phase 1, 2, 2A & 2B, and 3 — the Union govt has committed Rs 41,557 crore towards construction. Karnataka govt’s committed contribution stands at Rs 36,332 crore,” Surya said.
Because of its ‘khali trunk, the state govt cannot inspire confidence to secure such financing on its own.
Bengaluru Metro follows a funding model which includes contributions from the Centre and state, along with soft loans from international bilateral and multilateral agencies, according to the MoU. He also alleged that Karnataka’s Congress-led govt had perfected the art of delay, hypocrisy and misplaced priorities. “These loans are secured directly by BMRCL and carry the sovereign guarantee of the central govt… It is the central govt’s sovereign guarantee that makes these international loans possible,” the MP added.
Responding to Surya’s allegations, former health minister and Gandhinagar MLA Dinesh Gundu Rao said the state bears 84% of the Metro project’s cost. “Karnataka bears 84% of the cost of Namma Metro, while the Centre contributes a paltry 16%. Bengaluru: Ahead of the inauguration of Namma Metro’s Pink Line this week, the ruling Congress and opposition BJP have once again crossed swords over who deserves credit for the city’s crucial transport project. You wouldn’t know it from the way BJP talks about it,” he stated on his X account. He added that while welcoming the Prime Minister for the Pink Line’s opening, credit should be given to Karnataka govt, its people, and the taxpayers for making it all possible.