Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, presenting his record-breaking 16th budget on Friday, March 7, allocated Rs 7,000 crore to Bengaluru, marking an increase of Rs 4,000 crore from the previous year’s grant. He also announced a new Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to utilise these funds efficiently and implement developmental works on a priority basis.
Despite opposition from various quarters, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s pet project, the tunnel road, is going ahead with the government standing guarantee for Rs 19,000 crore to BBMP for the North-South and East-West tunnel projects.
Additionally, a 40.5 km double-decker flyover along with the Namma Metro Phase 3 Project has been planned at a cost of Rs 8,916 crore, while Rs 3,000 crore will be used for constructing 300 km of additional roads utilising canal buffer zones. Another Rs 660 crore is set aside for upgrading 460 km of arterial and sub-arterial roads, and 120 km of flyovers and grade separators will be developed.
The long-pending Peripheral Ring Road project, now renamed as the ‘Bengaluru Business Corridor,’ is slated to receive Rs 27,000 crore through a HUDCO bank loan, with land acquisition efforts already in progress. The Bengaluru Metro will expand to 98.6 km over the next two years and extend service up to Devanahalli.
As part of its push towards sustainable urban mobility, the Karnataka government has announced the induction of 9,000 new electric buses for the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) under various central and externally aided projects. Additionally, a new satellite bus stand will be constructed at KR Puram in the Bengaluru East Zone under a public-private partnership model. The redevelopment of the Bengaluru Majestic Bus Stand is also planned under the Project Majestic scheme, with a commercial transport hub set to be built.
The ‘Brand Bengaluru’ initiative has received an allocation of Rs 1,800 crore for 21 projects focused on improving urban infrastructure, service delivery, and traffic management. Stormwater drain reconstruction and lake rejuvenation projects in Bengaluru city have been allocated Rs 239 crore to further enhance water conservation efforts.
A ‘Comprehensive Health Programme’ will be launched under the Brand Bengaluru initiative with a budget of Rs 413 crore, aiming to elevate Bengaluru’s healthcare facilities to global standards. The Nephro-Urology Institute in Bengaluru, developed at a cost of Rs 26 crore, is set to be completed and dedicated to public service.
Other highlights for Bengaluru:
Rs 667 crore to the Bengaluru Safe City project. 60 additional women-only police stations will be established, and the number of police divisions will increase from 8 to 11.
Comprehensive Flood Management System will be implemented in the BBMP area at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore.
Rs 3,000 crore for improving drainage and sewage treatment infrastructure.
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) will construct a wastewater treatment plant and sewage pumping system at a cost of Rs 1,070 crore.
Rs 555 crore has been allocated for the fifth phase of the Cauvery Water Supply Project.
Quantum Research Park (Phase-2) will be set up in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, with a grant of Rs 48 crore over three years.
Rs 57 crore has been earmarked for the reconstruction of the Bengaluru Bio-Innovation Centre, which was damaged in a fire disaster.