A political controversy has emerged in Bengaluru over the sharing of expenses for the city’s Metro project. The Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have exchanged accusations over how much each government has contributed towards the project. The disagreement comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled inauguration of the Pink Line Metro, adding to the political tension surrounding the event.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar claimed that the state government is bearing around 84% of the project’s total cost. He said Karnataka has made a major financial contribution towards developing the Metro infrastructure. His statement highlighted the state’s role in expanding public transport facilities and improving connectivity across Bengaluru.
However, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya challenged Shivakumar’s claim and argued that the contribution of the central government must also be included when calculating the project’s expenses. He questioned the figures presented by the Congress leadership and stressed that the Centre’s financial support should not be ignored. This disagreement has led to further political exchanges between the two parties.
Meanwhile, another controversy emerged over the inauguration programme. Transport Minister Krishna Byre Gowda alleged that his speech had been removed from the event’s schedule. He expressed dissatisfaction over the decision and suggested that political considerations may have influenced the organisers. The allegation has added another issue to the ongoing disagreement between the state and central leadership.
The Pink Line is an important addition to Bengaluru’s Metro network and is expected to improve connectivity for daily commuters. However, the disagreements over project funding and the inauguration arrangements have shifted public attention towards the political rivalry between the Congress and BJP. The controversy has once again highlighted the tensions between the state and central governments over infrastructure projects and the recognition of their respective contributions.