Shivakumar Demands Metro Funding and Drought Relief from Modi

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar presented a series of financial and infrastructure demands to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during joint events in Bengaluru and Mysuru on November 13, 2026. During a Metro inauguration at IIM-Bangalore, Shivakumar urged the central government to grant Bengaluru's transit projects the same priority as those in Delhi, requesting a 50:50 cost-sharing model. He argued that the state currently bears over 80% of the financial burden, including land acquisition, taxes, and foreign exchange risks.

Shivakumar specifically sought faster clearances for the Red Line (Phase 3A) to help expand the network to 500 km and reduce traffic congestion. Beyond infrastructure, the Chief Minister appealed for the release of 22,400.58 crore rupees from the National Disaster Response Fund to assist 226 of the state's 240 taluks suffering from severe drought.

Additional requests included statutory clearances for the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, the withdrawal of the Kasturirangan Report recommendations, and increased sugarcane prices to 5,500 rupees per tonne. Shivakumar also sought a fair share of ethanol allocation for the state. Prime Minister Modi did not publicly respond to these demands during the events.