Karnataka deputy CM seeks Centre's nod for Bengaluru Metro Phase 3A, other urban projects
New Delhi (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday met Union ministers Manohar Lal and C R Patil and sought approval for pending proposals, including Phase 3A of the Bengaluru Metro Rail Project.
In his meeting with Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal, Shivakumar said the state government is currently undertaking several critical urban development initiatives in Bengaluru.
However, certain important proposals submitted by the state government are pending approval, he said in his representation.
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Shivakumar said that approval for the revised completion cost -- from Rs 26,405.14 crore to Rs 40,425.02 crore -- for Phase 2 of the Bengaluru Metro Rail Project (BMRCL) is pending.
Other pending proposals include Phase 3A of BMRCL, the Regional Rapid Transit System for the Bengaluru region, and treatment and disposal of legacy leachate at Mittaganahalli.
The proposal for Phase 3A of BMRCL -- consisting of 36.59 kilometres from Sarjapura to Hebbal with 28 stations at an estimated cost of Rs 28,405 crore -- was submitted to the Central government in January this year but it is still pending, he added.
In a separate meeting with Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil, the deputy chief minister discussed pending state water issues.
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Hormuz Strait disruptions have caused huge economic impact, energy instability in region: Navy chief
Mumbai (PTI): The Strait of Hormuz disruptions have caused severe economic impact and energy instability in the region, Indian Navy chief Admiral D K Tripathi said on Thursday amid the war in West Asia.
Speaking at an event where INS Sunayna, an offshore patrol vessel, set sail from Mumbai as Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar, the admiral said competition at sea has no longer remained confined to oil and energy.
It is now expanding towards resources that will shape future growth - such as rare earth elements, critical minerals, new fishing grounds and even data, he said.
The West Asia crisis began on February 28 after a joint attack by the US and Israel on Iran.
Iran's strikes on its neighbours along with its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted the world's energy supplies with effects far beyond West Asia.
"With the conflict in West Asia well into its fifth week, the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have caused severe economic impact and energy instability in the region," Tripathi said.
There is significant increase in the marine survey, deep-sea research activity, and Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU), often encroaching upon the sovereign rights of littoral nations and exploiting gaps in monitoring and enforcement, he said.
Alongside these, threats such as piracy, armed robbery and narco-trafficking backed by unimpeded access of advanced technology to non-state actors, have also become more complex and challenging to counter, the Navy chief pointed out.
Last year alone, the Indian Ocean Region witnessed a staggering 3,700 maritime incidents of varying nature, the admiral said.
Additionally, narcotics seizures in the region exceeded USD 1 billion USD in 2025, highlighting the persistence and spread of such challenges in the region, he said.
