Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday hailed the inauguration of Bengaluru’s Yellow Line Metro and Phase-3 works as a milestone in the city’s fight against traffic congestion, while reminding that the project was a joint effort where the State bore the lion’s share of costs.
With daily metro ridership expected to rise to 12.5 lakh following the Yellow Line launch, he said the expansion plans under Phases 3 and 4 could carry up to 30 lakh passengers a day by 2030, provided the Centre clears pending proposals.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 19-km Yellow Line Metro, the foundation stone laying for J.P. Nagar 4th Phase, and the flagging off of the Vande Bharat trains, Siddaramaiah expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who attended the event, for the Union government’s role in the Bengaluru Metro project.
The Chief Minister pointed out that while the Union government extended technical and financial support, the State had contributed over ₹25,387 crore towards Phases 1, 2, 2A, 2B, and 3, covering 87.37 per cent of the metro’s funding, compared to the Centre’s ₹7,468 crore, which accounted for only 12.63 per cent.
To date, ₹59,139 crore has been allocated for metro projects. He claimed that as per the agreement, the Centre and the State were to invest on a 50:50 basis. However, the funds from the Union government, other than equity, have come as loans that must be repaid with interest by the State government and the metro authorities. So far, ₹3,987 crore has been returned as repayment.
“The yellow line was constructed at ₹7,160 crore. Currently, around 9 lakh people use metro facilities daily — 12.5 lakh commuters with the yellow line. Bengaluru is one of the fastest-growing cities and so, has traffic issues. Because of this new line, traffic around Central Silk Board and Jayadeva Hospital will be reduced. By 2030, the union government intends to cover a distance of 120 km of metro connectivity. We have already finished 1, 2, 2A, and 2B. Today, the foundation stone has been laid for phase 3. The DPR for the 3A plan is ready and has been sent to the Centre. With permission, we can start that process as well,” Siddaramaiah highlighted.
With the inauguration of the Yellow Line, the operational metro network in Bengaluru now covers 96.10 km, making it the longest metro network in South India.
“I request the Union government to provide greater funding for our metro, just as it does for Maharashtra and Gujarat,” the CM added.
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, in an open letter, appealed to the Prime Minister to provide an investment of ₹1.5 lakh crore for infrastructure development. He stated that the construction of urban tunnels, the Bengaluru Business Corridor, integrated solid waste management plants, elevated roads along metro lines, flyovers, additional drinking water projects, new roads over storm water drains, and the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) will require extra investment from the Centre.
“The Centre was supposed to bear 50 per cent of the land acquisition cost for the metro. We completed the project in the interest of the city. Though Karnataka is the second-highest tax-paying state in the country, contributing about ₹4.50 lakh crore annually, it gets little in return,” he said, speaking to reporters outside his Sadashivnagar residence.
He continued, “Ahmedabad is given 20 per cent of the tax devolution while Bengaluru gets only 10 per cent. Bengaluru needs to be treated on par with other large cities in the country, like Delhi. We are not doing politics, but only appealing.”
The Yellow Line will connect key biotech and IT hubs while providing access to several hospitals and industrial areas. With the completion of Phase-2, Bengaluru will have 117 km of metro connectivity, enabling 15 lakh daily passengers. The 58 km, ₹15,131-crore Phase-2A and 2B lines, connecting Outer Ring Road and the airport, are scheduled for completion by December 2027, linking Kempegowda International Airport with the city.
Civil works for Phase-3, spanning 44.65 km with an investment of ₹15,611 crore, are set to begin soon. In Phase 4, the 53 km double-decker-cum-metro line is under feasibility study.
Private organisations like Infosys Foundation, Biocon, and Delta Electronics have partnered in building metro stations, with public-private partnerships expected to grow stronger.
Karnataka currently contributes 35–40 per cent of the country’s IT exports, with Bengaluru having the largest share. In electronics and R&D exports, the State’s share is over 40 per cent. The CM said that the State government has planned projects worth over ₹1.35 lakh crore to transform Bengaluru into a model city, with several projects underway.
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Published on August 10, 2025
