Bengaluru: Seeking greater financial commitment from the Centre towards Namma Metro, chief minister DK Shivakumar Friday called for a fairer division of investment between the Centre and the state, arguing that Karnataka has been bearing a higher financial burden despite the project being structured as a 50:50 partnership.The demand was made in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inauguration of the elevated section of the Pink Line. Ahead of the inauguration, Karnataka govt had claimed that the state has borne 84% of Namma Metro’s project cost. The claim triggered a war of words between Congress and BJP functionaries, with BJP rejecting govt’s assessment and arguing that the Centre had extended substantial financial support to the project.“I have drawn up several plans to address Bengaluru’s traffic problems, and Metro connectivity is one of the most critical components. Though Metro projects are implemented on a 50:50 partnership basis between the Centre and the state, the actual financial burden on the state govt is much higher,” Shivakumar said.Pointing to the high cost of foreign borrowings, he said Metro projects should be financed through national banks and other financial institutions at more affordable interest rates. He also sought a mechanism for the Centre and states to share operational cash losses and foreign exchange risks arising from external loans.The chief minister also sought faster clearances for Metro projects, particularly the proposed Red Line connecting Sarjapur and Hebbal, which has been awaiting central approval for more than two years. He called for time-bound approvals, regular reviews under the PRAGATI mechanism and Prime Minister’s direct intervention to resolve delays in approvals.Shivakumar said project costs should be assessed based on the actual conditions in individual cities rather than uniform national averages. He pointed out that detailed project reports were often two to three years old by the time they received central approval and proposed that cost escalations arising from such delays be shared by the Centre and state.He also proposed establishing a dedicated national technical institution for Metro projects to provide technical guidance, promote advanced technologies and speed up decision-making.
