Both Centre and State have share in the metro project: DCM DK Shivakumar

By Editor

Posted on August 5, 2025

Both Centre and State have share in the metro project: DCM DK Shivakumar

Bengaluru : Stating that both state and the centre hold shares in the metro project, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar today said that serving the people was more important than ‘credit’ politics.

Speaking to reporters after inspecting the soon-to-be-launched Yellow line of Namma metro, the DCM, who also holds the Bengaluru city portfolio, said, “This is our metro. The CM and I had requested the PM to inaugurate the Yellow line and he has given the time now. This is not a project of the Central government alone, the state too has 50% share in the project. We are all serving the public.” He was replying to a question if the inauguration of the Yellow line was decided by the Centre or the State.

“The PM will inaugurate the Yellow line on August 10. The 19.15 km line with 16 stations was built at a cost of Rs 7,610 crore. A small programme will be organised at the auditorium in Indian Institute of Management, Bengaluru. The PM, CM and the local legislators would travel in the inaugural trip of the train thereafter. We will submit an appeal to the PM on funds needed for the double decker project’s land acquisition,” he informed.

Let the MPs get us funds
Asked about extension of metro network and building more double decker metro lines, he said, “It would be nice if the MPs who are making a lot of noise get us some funds. The MPs don’t speak a word on the funds, but are engaged in nitpicking. We have decided to build double decker metro lines for all lines in the future.”

Safety first
“The Commissionerate of Railway Safety gave the clearance for the Yellow line on July 31. We can’t rush through things like safety, Tejaswi Surya is young blood in a hurry and doesn’t have any experience,” he said.

Trains every 25 min now
“Three train sets have arrived for the Yellow line and the fourth set will come in August. Three trains will operate now at an interval of 25 minutes. The frequency would be increased to 10 minutes once more train sets arrive. This is a crucial line to link the IT hubs to the city,” he informed.

New Hebbal flyover loop to be opened before Aug 15
Replying to a question on inauguration of Hebbal flyover’s new loop, he said, “We will throw it open to the public before August 15 after taking CM’s availability into consideration. The KR-Puram-City loop will be opened now and the Airport service road-City loop will be opened a little later. We are planning a new tunnel from Nagawara to Esteem Mall to agricultural university. This would be a 1.5 km tunnel and it is different from the larger tunnel road being planned,” he said.

Asked about growing passengers but very few train sets, he said, “Train sets have not arrived due to certain reasons. They had imported train sets from China but there are some issues. Train sets have to come from many other domestic facilities. Frequency will be increased once more train sets arrive.”

“I would like to congratulate on behalf of the state government everyone including officials, contractors, labourers, who worked on the Yellow line,” he said.

Asked about burgeoning traffic in Bengaluru, he said, “People from all around the country are migrating to Bengaluru. Good weather, Cauvery water, educational institutions are attracting people. We have also instructed BMRCL to acquire 3-4 acres of land for parking.”