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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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
