Budget 2025: K’taka rail projects get Rs 7,564 cr, no allocation for sub-urban rail rolling stock
Bengaluru: The Union Budget 2025-26 has allocated ₹7,564 crore for railway projects in Karnataka, marking a marginal increase from last year’s ₹7,559 crore. The budgetary provisions include funding for 15 railway projects which aim at enhancing intra-state and inter-state connectivity.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the Indian Railways has been allocated ₹2.55 lakh crore for 2025-26, compared to ₹2.62 lakh crore last year.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna stated that ₹350 crore has been sanctioned for the Bengaluru suburban railway project, the same as the previous year. However, there has been no allocation for suburban rail rolling stock, raising concerns among commuters and activists.
The railway budget earmarks ₹1,16,500 crore for railway safety measures and ₹12,000 crore for passenger amenities, including the modernization of railway stations across the country. Somanna assured that the funds allocated to Karnataka would be used to expedite long-pending railway projects.
Key railway line projects in Karnataka and their allocated funds include:
Gadag-Wadi: ₹549.45 crore
Tumkur-Chitradurga-Davangere: ₹549.45 crore
Rayadurg-Tumkur via Kalyandurg: ₹434.85 crore
Bagalkot-Kudachi: ₹428.1 crore
Hosapete-Hubballi-Londa-Tinaighat-Vasco-da-Gama: ₹413.73 crore
Hotgi-Kudgi-Gadag: ₹401.15 crore
Bengaluru-Whitefield-KR Puram quadrupling: ₹357.6 crore
Pune-Miraj-Londa: ₹312.9 crore
Bayappanahalli-Hosur: ₹223.5 crore
Munirabad-Mahabubnagar: ₹214.05 crore
Yeshwantpur-Channasandra: ₹178.8 crore
Toranagallu-Ranjitpura: ₹104.47 crore
Daund-Kalaburagi doubling & Pune-Guntakal electrification: ₹84.39 crore
Kadur-Chikmagalur-Sakleshpura: ₹78.4 crore
Shivamogga-Shikaripura-Ranebennur: ₹64.05 crore
As per a ‘X’ post by Journalist Christin Mathew Philip, Karnataka had sought ₹3,414 crore for the Bengaluru suburban railway, including ₹859 crore from the Railway Board and ₹1,982 crore from foreign funding agencies (KfW/EIB), however the Union Budget has allocated only ₹350 crore.
Meanwhile, the absence of funds for suburban rail rolling stock has drawn flak from social media users.
A social media user questioned the sufficiency of ₹350 crore for the project, while another user criticized the government for providing “small sums that won’t help anything.”
Another user @LakshmeeshaCS wrote, “this clearly states that there is no encouragement for Karnataka even after being the 2nd highest #GST earner.”
For Bengaluru suburban rail:
— ChristinMathewPhilip (@ChristinMP_) February 2, 2025
Total ₹3,414 crore sought:
- ₹859 crore from railway board
- ₹1,982 crore from funding agencies (KfW/EIB)
In Union Budget, only ₹350 crore out of the ₹859 crore has been allocated
No funds have been allocated for rolling stock either https://t.co/axUgaXs3ey pic.twitter.com/AqLyUyL6kf
Karnataka approved ₹2,135 crore (50% state share) for 306 train coaches for Bengaluru suburban rly in Nov 24
— ChristinMathewPhilip (@ChristinMP_) December 31, 2024
Total rolling stock cost at ₹4,300 cr
Union Railway Ministry's nod for remaining 50% share is awaited
Rolling stock delivery may take 2 yrs post-tender. Pls help 🙏 https://t.co/0bNsrnxAwP
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If you have a conscience, apologize to the people: R Ashoka slams Yathindra over Nalwadi comparison
Bengaluru: Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka launched a scathing attack on MLC Dr. Yathindra, demanding that he retract his controversial statement comparing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to the late Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar. Ashoka urged Yathindra to apologize to the people of Karnataka if he had even a shred of conscience and any respect for the Mysuru royal lineage.
In a strongly worded social media post on Sunday, Ashoka stated, “Comparing Siddaramaiah to Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar is nothing short of absurd. Where is Nalwadi, who was bestowed the title of ‘Rajarshi’ by Mahatma Gandhi himself, and where is Siddaramaiah, who has stooped to being a puppet in the hands of fake Gandhis for the sake of power?”
He continued his critique by contrasting the enduring legacy of Nalwadi, remembered fondly by Kannadigas for his people-centric development, with what he termed as Siddaramaiah’s failure to manage Karnataka’s economy, burdening every household with debt.
Ashoka highlighted several stark differences, while Nalwadi built Mysore University over a century ago, Siddaramaiah is shutting down nine universities due to lack of funds. Nalwadi famously sold his family’s gold to build the KRS dam, whereas Siddaramaiah is accused of grabbing 14 sites meant for the public. Nalwadi established Bhadravati Iron & Steel Plant, Sandalwood Soap Factory, and Mysore Paper Mills. In contrast, Ashoka claimed Siddaramaiah's governance drove away industries, investors, and entrepreneurs. Nalwadi pioneered reservations for the backward classes long before it became mainstream. Siddaramaiah, Ashoka alleged, is reducing social justice to a gimmick by sticking labels on doors in the name of surveys.
While acknowledging Yathindra’s emotional attachment to his father, Ashoka emphasized that comparing Siddaramaiah to a visionary like Nalwadi was “laughable, baseless, and a gross insult” to the late king.
In his concluding remarks, Ashoka slammed the government for ignoring farmers’ needs despite an early monsoon. He accused the administration of being caught up in internal power struggles and negligence, forcing farmers into despair. “This government will not be spared from the curse of the farmers,” he warned.
