A dispute over Bengaluru Metro funding has intensified ahead of the inauguration of a 7.5-km elevated Pink Line stretch, with BJP MP Tejasvi Surya challenging the Karnataka government’s claim that the Centre’s share of the project’s capital infusion has fallen to 16%.
Surya said on Thursday that the 84:16 calculation was based on what he described as the incorrect inclusion of loans raised by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) as the state government’s contribution. He claimed the financing pattern for Bengaluru Metro was instead 54:46, with the larger share comprising central support-backed institutional financing and other funding sources.
The dispute follows remarks by Greater Bengaluru development minister Krishna Byre Gowda, who said the total cost of Namma Metro projects stood at Rs 77,891 crore. According to the minister’s calculation, the state government had contributed Rs 65,291 crore, while the Centre’s contribution was Rs 12,600 crore.
Surya argued that BMRCL, which operates as a special purpose vehicle, was a separate entity and that its borrowings should not be counted as direct expenditure by the Karnataka government. He said that after excluding loans, the state’s contribution would amount to 46.6%, while 53.4% would comprise Centre-backed institutional financing and other funding.
The BJP MP referred to nearly Rs 29,000 crore in foreign loans provided to BMRCL by international financial institutions. He said these loans were supported by the Centre’s sovereign guarantee and were repayable by BMRCL, not direct state government expenditure. Surya accused the Congress government of using what he called “mischievous accounting” to mislead the public.
He also rejected the state government’s allegation that the Centre had delayed approval for the proposed Red Line between Sarjapur and Hebbal by more than 22 months. Surya said the Centre had examined the detailed project report and reduced the proposed cost from Rs 28,405 crore to Rs 25,999 crore, a claimed reduction of Rs 2,406 crore.
On the proposed Orange Line, Surya accused the state government of delaying implementation by repeatedly changing the design. He also said the elevated Pink Line corridor received central approval in 2014, but that the construction contract was awarded by the then Congress government only in 2017.
The funding dispute has also extended to the inauguration programme. Byre Gowda said he had been denied an opportunity to speak at the event at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore auditorium after raising the issue of Karnataka’s share in Metro financing. On X, he wrote that his speech had been included in the draft programme but was removed late at night.
The final programme listed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Governor Sudha Yadav, Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Tejasvi Surya among the speakers. The Prime Minister was scheduled to travel by Metro from Suddaguntepalya to IIM Bangalore before inaugurating the 7.5-km Pink Line stretch between Kalena Agrahara and Suddaguntepalya and launching other projects.
