CM Siddaramaiah says Karnataka outspending Centre on Bengaluru metro
Bengaluru, Aug 10 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said the state has been spending more than the Centre on Bengaluru’s metro network, "even though the project is meant to be jointly funded", as he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared the stage at the foundation-laying ceremony for Phase-3.
Speaking at the event, also attended by Union Ministers Manohar Lal Khattar and Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah said the metro is to be funded equally by the Centre and the state as per the agreement, but "the state is spending more on this project."
While acknowledging the Centre’s technical and financial assistance, he noted that much of it comes in the form of loans and equity, which the state must repay with interest. "So far, Rs 3,987 crore has been refunded," he said.
According to the chief minister, 96.10 km of metro lines have been completed, with the state spending Rs 25,387 crore and the Centre Rs 7,468.86 crore.
The 19.15 km Yellow Line, built at Rs 7,160 crore, will benefit 7.5 lakh passengers daily. Currently, nine lakh people use the metro, and the number is expected to rise to 12.5 lakh once the Yellow Line is operational, he said.
Siddaramaiah added Bengaluru’s rapid growth and heavy traffic made the metro essential.
The network is planned to expand to 220 km by 2030, serving 30 lakh daily passengers. Phases 1, 2, 2A, and 2B have been completed; Phase-3’s foundation has been laid, and Phase-3A will begin once the Centre grants clearance. Metro-4 will cover 53 km.
He also urged the PM to extend Karnataka the same priority given to Maharashtra and Gujarat, and thanked him for launching the Bengaluru–Belagavi Vande Bharat train.
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Dalai Lama says Grammy win reflects shared responsibility, not personal achievement
Dharamshala (PTI): Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Monday said his Grammy Award win was not a personal achievement but a recognition of a shared universal responsibility.
The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, won his first Grammy in the category of best audio book, narration, and storytelling recording for his spoken-word album, Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, at the 68th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
He edged out other nominees, including Kathy Garver for Elvis Rocky & Me: The Carol Connors Story, Trevor Noah for Into The Uncut Grass, Ketanji Brown Jackson for Lovely One: A Memoir and Fab Morvan for You Know It's True: The Real Story of Milli Vanilli.
Reacting to the prestigious international recognition, the Dalai Lama expressed gratitude and humility, saying he did not view the award as a personal achievement.
"I receive this recognition with gratitude and humility. I don't see it as something personal, but as a recognition of our shared universal responsibility," the Dalai Lama said.
"I firmly believe that peace, compassion, care for our environment, and an understanding of the oneness of humanity are essential for the collective well-being of all eight billion human beings. I am grateful that this Grammy recognition can help spread these messages more widely," he said.
