Karnataka hopes for increased grants in Union Budget for infrastructure projects

BENGALURU: With the Union Budget 2025-26 set to be presented in Parliament tomorrow by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Congress government in Karnataka hopes for increasd grants for infrastructure projects.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar had earlier written to the Centre with a list of demands which includes a special grant for Bengaluru. The state has also demanded Rs 11,495 crore grants under the 15th Finance Commission and release of Rs 5,000 crore that was announced for the Upper Bhadra project.

The other demands include central approvals for the Mekedatu and Kalasa-Banduri projects, special package for development of Kalyana Karnataka and Malnad, increase in the central share for the pension scheme and housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, raising the honorarium for ASHA and anganwadi workers and midday meal employees, increasing GST compensation and declaring the Upper Krishna project as one of national importance.

The Karnataka government has also raised several issues related to Bengaluru. These include financial assistance for the proposed 18.5 km tunnel road project connecting Esteem Mall in Hebbal to Silk Board Junction at a cost of Rs 15,000 crore, and 28.5 km tunnel road from KR Pura to Nayandahallii junction at an estimated cost of Rs 25,000 crore; financial assistance for the Rs 8,916 crore Metro phase-4 project from JP Nagar to Hebbal including a double decker flyover; 17 flyovers at 11 junctions where there is heavy traffic density at a cost of Rs 12,000 crore; financial assistance for the Rs 3,000 crore project to take up 300 km of road work where encroachments have been cleared in buffer zones of rajakaluves and major lakes; 73.05 km 8-lane business corridor at a cost of Rs 27,000 crore including Rs 21,000 crore for land acquisition; and assistance for the Cauvery Stage-6 project to bring 500 MLD of water to Bengaluru city.