Who is paying for Bengaluru Metro? Congress-BJP spar ahead of Pink Line launch

Ahead of PM Modi's Bengaluru Metro inauguration, a political row has erupted between the Congress and BJP over who is shouldering the bigger share of the project's cost. While DK Shivakumar claims Karnataka bears 84 per cent, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya disputes the calculation. Minister Krishna Byre Gowda also alleges his speech was dropped from the event schedule.

In Short

• Karnataka claims it funds 84% of Bengaluru Metro, Centre 16%
• BJP's Surya accuses Congress of misleading accounting, shifting loans
• Surya says loans to BMRCL, not state, distort funding picture

Ahead of the November 13 inauguration of a key stretch of Bengaluru Metro, which will see Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar share the same dais, a political battle has already erupted between the Congress and the BJP over who is paying more for the city's expanding Metro network.

With Shivakumar asserting that Karnataka is shouldering the lion's share of the project's financial burden, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya has hit back, accusing the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleague of misleading people through what he called "mischievous accounting practices". The war of words centres on competing claims over the Centre's and the state's contributions to the Namma Metro project.

The exchange comes just a day before Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the 7.5-km elevated section of the Pink Line, connecting Kalena Agrahara to Tavarekere and Suddaguntepalya, with a connection to the Electronic City line at Jayadeva station.

On Wednesday, Shivakumar took to X to assert that the Karnataka government was playing the leading role in financing the development and expansion of Namma Metro, contributing more than the Union government across various phases.

He said the state's financial contribution went beyond construction costs to include land acquisition, rehabilitation, state taxes, interest during construction, loan repayment and the operation and maintenance of Metro services.

Karnataka was also bearing a significant share of additional costs arising from project delays while continuing to support new lines and network expansion, the Deputy Chief Minister said.

"We continue to shoulder the responsibility of building and successfully running Bengaluru's Metro network," he added.

The state's claims were backed by Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, who presented the funding figures for Metro Phases 1, 2, 2A, 2B and the estimated cost of Phase 3 at a press conference.

According to Gowda, the combined project outlay stood at Rs 77,891 crore, of which Karnataka was bearing Rs 65,291 crore, or approximately 84 per cent. The Centre's contribution, he said, amounted to Rs 12,600 crore, or around 16 per cent.

"The State is effectively investing nearly five rupees for every rupee contributed by the Centre," Gowda said, arguing that the actual financial burden on Karnataka was far removed from the 50:50 funding arrangement often cited for Metro projects.

TEJASVI SURYA ACCUSES CONGRESS OF MISLEADING PEOPLE

Surya responded with a press conference, seeking to counter the Congress government's claims and explain the funding structure of the Bengaluru Metro.

Taking a swipe at both Shivakumar and the state government, the BJP MP said neither the Prime Minister nor the Chief Minister was spending money from their personal pockets on the project.

"Every development project is funded entirely by the money paid by ordinary taxpayers, both across the country and in Karnataka," he said, adding that citizens had the right to know how their money was being utilised and how the Centre and state were dividing the financial burden.

Surya argued that the Congress government's calculation of Karnataka's contribution was misleading because it included nearly Rs 29,000 crore in loans extended to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) under the state's contribution column.

Explaining the funding structure, he said BMRCL was a 50:50 joint venture between the Centre and Karnataka, with both governments having contributed Rs 9,164 crore each in equity.

He said international loans were the primary source of funding for new Metro projects and that the Centre provided sovereign guarantees to facilitate borrowings by BMRCL from foreign financial institutions and banks.

However, Surya pointed out that the loans were extended to BMRCL, not the Karnataka government, and that the corporation itself was responsible for repaying them.

"Who is responsible for repaying these loans? Is it the Karnataka government? No. The responsibility for repaying the loans lies with BMRCL itself," he said.

Accusing the Congress government of shifting approximately Rs 29,000 crore in loans from the Centre's column to the state's column in its presentation, Surya said this had distorted the accounting and created a misleading picture of the funding arrangement.

"The Chief Minister and ministers who have taken an oath in the name of the Constitution should not resort to such misleading and mischievous accounting practices," he said.

The BJP MP also raised questions about delays in the proposed Red Line project, escalation in Metro construction costs and the recurring controversy over fare hikes.

He alleged that the state government claimed credit for Metro inaugurations but shifted responsibility to the Centre when fares were increased. Surya said he intended to clarify the respective roles of the two governments on these issues.

KRISHNA BYRE GOWDA ALLEGES HIS SPEECH WAS CUT

The political friction over the Metro inauguration has also spilled over into the event's programme.

Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda alleged on X that his speaking slot at the November 13 inauguration had been removed from the final programme, even though it featured in an earlier draft.

Sharing pictures of the draft and modified programme schedules, Gowda claimed that his name had been struck off and that he was denied an opportunity to address the gathering.

"The reward for asking for justice for Karnataka state—my speech was cut!" he wrote.

The minister alleged that his speech was included in the draft programme but was dropped from the final list received the previous night.

Linking the alleged omission to the funding controversy, Gowda said Karnataka was bearing most of the capital expenditure and was being punished for demanding a fair share for the state.

However, he added that the alleged snub would not deter the government from working for Bengaluru's development.

"That's all right, you can cut my speech. But you cannot stop us from working for Bengaluru's development. We will work even harder," he said.

- Ends