D.K. Shivakumar
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Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar has written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman requesting financial support for Bengaluru’s major infrastructure projects such as the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) and tunnel roads in the upcoming Union Budget for 2025-26. However, Mr. Shivakumar has not sought any specific amount as aid, but only appealed to the Union government for “financial support”.
The Budget is set to be presented on February 1. In his letter, Mr. Shivakumar has emphasised Bengaluru’s role in India’s economic and technological advancements and the need for Central funding to accelerate key infrastructure projects, especially those aimed at alleviating the traffic and drinking water situation in the city.
“Bengaluru has emerged as a global city, attracting investment and creating employment opportunities for the nation’s youth. However, with the city’s population nearing 1.5 crore, there is an urgent need to upgrade infrastructure to maintain its position as India’s Silicon Valley. The State government has proposed several critical projects, and Central support in the upcoming Budget is essential,” Mr. Shivakumar said in the letter.
The letter lists all the key infrastructure projects proposed: two tunnel roads — 18.5-km north-south tunnel road from Hebbal to Silk Board junction and the 28.5-km road from K.R. Puram to Nayandahalli, costing ₹15,000 crore and ₹25,000 crore, respectively; an eight-lane 73.04-km PRR with an investment of ₹27,000 crore, and Cauvery VI Stage project to supply an additional 500 MLD of drinking water by 2028.
While a detailed project report (DPR) is still under way for the Cauvery VI Stage project, the State government has decided to raise loans of ₹19,000 crore for tunnel roads and ₹27,000 crore for the PRR project.
The letter also seeks Central funding for the Namma Metro Phase IV network, which will feature double-decker flyovers, covering 45 km from J.P. Nagar to Hebbal and Hosahalli to Kadabagere, costing ₹8,916 crore. Seventeen flyovers covering 99.5 km and 300 km of new roads in the buffer zones of storm-water drains are also planned, costing ₹12,000 crore, and ₹3,000 crore, respectively, he noted in the letter.
Published – January 25, 2025 07:56 pm IST
