Following a crucial high-level meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar discusses the 18 major demands submitted to the Union Government for the comprehensive development of the state.
Crucial Water and Irrigation Projects
Question: Welcome, Sir. You recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and submitted a comprehensive 18-point memorandum. Let us begin with the critical water and irrigation sectors. What are your primary demands regarding the Mekedatu and Upper Krishna projects?
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar: Thank you. Water security is an absolute priority for my administration. Regarding the Mekedatu Project, I informed the PM that the Supreme Court dismissed various petitions from Tamil Nadu on November 13, 2025. Since the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) has already directed the Central Water Commission (CWC) to evaluate the project, we have requested the Union Government to expedite the final clearances so we can move ahead.
Secondly, for the Upper Krishna Project (Stage-III), it has been over a decade since the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II) delivered its verdict. Yet, the Central Government has not published it in the Gazette. Karnataka has already invested heavily in implementing this project, and we need the Center’s support and immediate notification to proceed smoothly.
Question: There have also been significant delays concerning the Upper Bhadra and Kalasa-Banduri projects. Did you raise these funding and environmental bottlenecks with the PM?
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar: Absolutely. I strongly raised the issue of the Upper Bhadra Project. The Union Government announced financial assistance of ₹5,300 crore in the 2023-24 Central Budget, but even after three years, those funds have not been released to the state. Recently, the 160th Advisory Committee meeting of the Jal Shakti Ministry validated our revised cost estimate of ₹21,167.93 crore. We have urged the PM to immediately release this aid under the PMKSY-AIBP scheme.
For the Kalasa and Banduri Nala Project, there are no legal hurdles remaining. However, the crucial Forest and Wildlife clearances are still pending, and we have requested the Center to grant them immediately.
Question: Your memorandum also includes a massive consolidated proposal worth over ₹11,000 crore for other irrigation schemes. What does that entail?
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar: We have requested swift approvals and Central assistance under the AIBP-PMKSY, FMBAP, and MCAD schemes for several vital pending works. We submitted the PFR/DPRs back in February 2025. This includes:
The Sonti Lift Irrigation Scheme.
The UKP Indi Branch Canal (Km 64 to 172).
The Malaprabha Canal (Stage-III).
The Ghataprabha Right Bank Canal and Chikkodi Branch Canal.
Pending works of the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal system.
The Bennihalla River Flood Control and Management Project.
The total estimated cost for these projects is ₹11,122.76 crore. Early approvals will transform our agricultural landscape. Additionally, we demanded a fair share of 40–45 TMC of water for Karnataka under the Godavari-Cauvery and Bedthi-Varada river-linking projects.
Mega Infrastructure & Bengaluru’s Growth
Question: Moving on to urban infrastructure, Bengaluru is a massive driver of the national economy. You have asked for a substantial financial package for the city. Could you outline those demands?
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar: Considering Bengaluru’s massive contribution to the national economy, we have demanded a Special Financial Assistance of ₹26,000 crore to strengthen the city’s infrastructure. Along with this, the Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR) project received PPPAC clearance on January 1, 2025, but is currently awaiting Union Cabinet approval. The proposal is with the PMO, and we want it cleared quickly to ease traffic congestion.
Question: Mass public transport, especially the Namma Metro and the Suburban Railway, are critical to fixing Bengaluru’s traffic issues. What specific approvals are you pushing for?
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar: We have pushed for a fast-tracked approach on multiple transit projects:
Suburban Rail: We urged the Union Cabinet to expedite the formal approval to shift the rolling stock procurement from a PPP model to an Equity model. We also requested to accelerate the Bengaluru-Mumbai High-Speed Rail Corridor to connect key districts in Kittur Karnataka and Kalyana Karnataka.
Metro Phase-3: We have planned a 37.121 km metro route integrated with a Double-Decker Flyover costing ₹9,700 crore. Since the State Government is bearing this cost, we want the Center to clear this revised plan.
Metro Phase-2 Cost Revision: Phase-2 was initially approved in 2014 for ₹26,405.14 crore. Due to various factors, the revised completion cost has risen to ₹40,425.02 crore (an increase of ₹14,019.88 crore). We requested the Center to approve this revised estimate immediately.
Metro Phase-3A: We resubmitted the revised DPR for the Sarjapur to Hebbal (37.804 km) Underground Tunnel Line on April 29, 2026, valued at ₹25,999 crore, and requested early approval.
Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS): We requested approval to implement an RRTS model connecting Bengaluru to surrounding satellite towns: Mysuru, Kanakapura, Tumakuru, Chikkaballapur, and Kolar.
Regional Development, Energy, and Healthcare
Question: Beyond the capital city, regional imbalance remains a core challenge. What are your specific demands for the Kalyana Karnataka region and the healthcare sector?
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar: In line with the vision of Article 371(J) of the Constitution, we have urged the Central Government to provide a dedicated annual financial assistance of ₹25,000 crore for the development of the Kalyana Karnataka region. Hand-in-hand with this, we want immediate approval to establish an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Raichur under Article 371(J). This will drastically upgrade the healthcare infrastructure and address regional imbalances in that area.
Furthermore, we requested the Center to fast-track the mandatory Forest, Environment, and Wildlife clearances for the 2,000 MW Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project, which is vital for grid stability and supporting India’s renewable energy goals. Lastly, we pressed for the urgent clearance and upgradation of pending National Highway projects across the state, along with the timely release of ₹2,860 crore in grants due to our Gram Panchayats under the 15th Finance Commission for the financial year 2025-26.
Question: Thank you, Mr. Chief Minister, for laying out this extensive developmental roadmap for Karnataka. We hope to see these projects progress soon.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar: Thank you. My government is fully committed to ensuring Karnataka gets its rightful share and achieves comprehensive, state-wide progress.
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