Ahead of Modi visit, Karnataka steps up pressure on Centre seeking higher central share for Bengaluru Metro

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bengaluru on November 13 to inaugurate a metro line, the Karnataka government launched a social media campaign highlighting the Centre's limited financial contribution to the city's metro expansion and sought faster approvals for pending projects.

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the state was bearing the bulk of metro development costs, including land acquisition, construction and interest payments, while also absorbing additional expenses arising from project delays.

The campaign focused on the proposed 37.8-km Sarjapur-Hebbal Metro line (Phase 3A), approved by the state cabinet in January 2025 but still awaiting Central clearance. The government argued that delays were increasing project costs and urged the Centre to approve the project without further delay while sharing the burden of cost escalation.


Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said Karnataka would formally raise the issue with Modi during his visit, seeking a larger Central contribution towards Bengaluru's metro network and time-bound approvals for pending projects.

The combined cost of Metro Phases 1, 2, 2A, 2B and the proposed Phase 3 stands at Rs 77,891 crore. Of this, Karnataka's share is Rs 65,291 crore, or about 84%, while the Centre's contribution is Rs 12,600 crore, or 16%, the minister told the media.

"The State is effectively investing nearly five rupees for every rupee contributed by the Centre," Gowda said, adding that the actual funding pattern differed significantly from the commonly cited 50:50 model for metro projects.

He said the Centre's share had steadily declined over successive phases of Bengaluru Metro, while Karnataka continued to fund land acquisition costs, project overruns and operational losses. The state has so far borne about Rs 1,046 crore in metro operating losses, with another Rs 52 crore yet to be reimbursed, he added.

Calling for greater Central support, Gowda said Bengaluru, a major contributor to GST, income tax and export earnings through its technology and services sectors, required sustained infrastructure investment. Expanding the metro network to 400-500 km was critical for the city's future but could not be achieved through state funding alone, he said.

Bengaluru Metro: The Funding Divide

Karnataka says it is funding 84% of Metro expansion costs, while the Centre's share stands at 16%.

Total Project Cost (Phases 1, 2, 2A, 2B & 3): Rs 77,891 crore

Contribution	Rs	Share
Karnataka	Rs 65,291 Cr	84%
Centre	Rs 12,600 Cr	16%

Karnataka's Complaint

• Karnataka contributes nearly Rs 5 for every Rs 1 from the Centre.
• State says it bears the full cost of land acquisition and much of the cost escalation from project delays.
• Karnataka has sought early approval for the 37.8-km Sarjapur-Hebbal Metro line (Phase 3A).
• The state plans to seek higher Central funding for future Metro expansion