Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated and dedicated to the nation several development projects, laid foundation stones and flagged off new services worth over Rs 15,600 crore in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Addressing a gathering, PM Modi extended greetings to the people in Kannada and paid homage to the city’s presiding deity, Goddess Annamma Tai, and Nadaprabhu Kempegowda. He said the projects, covering connectivity, railways, metro infrastructure and energy security, would give fresh impetus to the development of Bengaluru and Karnataka.
“From projects connected with metro and rail to works of energy security, all these projects are going to give new strength to the infrastructure of Karnataka,” he said.
The Prime Minister said improved infrastructure and connectivity create opportunities for employment, industrial growth and economic progress, benefiting all sections of society. He added that the projects would contribute to the vision of a Viksit Bharat through a developed Karnataka while strengthening Bengaluru’s identity as a technology hub.
Highlighting the inauguration of the Bengaluru Metro’s new Pink Line, PM Modi said the corridor would improve connectivity to the Indian Institute of Management Bengaluru, several educational institutions and major business, technology and commercial centres.
He said the new line would benefit lakhs of commuters by reducing travel time and expenses. The Prime Minister also paid tribute to former Union Minister Ananth Kumar, recalling his close association with the region and his contribution to its development. Modi noted that the late leader would have been pleased to see the metro line becoming operational.
Describing Bengaluru as India’s Silicon Valley and a major centre of innovation and economic growth, PM Modi said the city accounts for more than one-third of the country’s IT exports. He highlighted the expansion of the Namma Metro network from 17 km in 2014 to more than 100 km at present, making Bengaluru the third urban region in the country, after Delhi-NCR and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, to cross the milestone.
He said the expansion reflected the government’s focus on improving ease of living and ease of travel, particularly for middle-class families.
Stating that Indian Railways is shedding its colonial-era mindset to build a new legacy where stations, engines, and coaches bear India’s distinct identity through Vande Bharat trains and Amrit Bharat stations, including over 60 stations in Karnataka alongside Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagaluru, Sakleshpur, and Subrahmanya Road, the Prime Minister highlighted how these stations blend modernity with sensitivity by offering special amenities for senior citizens and Divyangjans. “The facilities that were earlier found in airports, efforts are now being made to provide those very facilities at railway stations to poor and middle-class families,” noted PM Modi.
Pointing out that India’s railway budget has grown manifold over the past 10 to 12 years with a ninefold increase in Karnataka’s allocation, the Prime Minister noted that the state received four Amrit stations and two doubling and electrification projects today, alongside a new Vande Bharat train connecting Karnataka with Goa just days after receiving its first Vande Bharat Sleeper train. “Through this train, companions along the entire coastal route of Karnataka, including Mangaluru, will get a new experience of a semi-high-speed train,” PM Modi Said.
On energy security, PM Modi said the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the Gulf region had underscored the importance of strengthening domestic energy capabilities. He said India had been able to navigate global challenges due to measures taken over the past decade to expand domestic production of petrol, diesel and LPG, increase crude oil storage capacity and diversify energy sources through solar, hydro and wind power.
He also cited the near-complete electrification of railway lines and the expansion of metro networks as part of the country’s broader energy security efforts.
Highlighting three energy-related projects in Karnataka, the Prime Minister said the Mangaluru LPG project would add 80,000 metric tonnes of storage capacity, while the Devangonthi Marketing Terminal would improve the supply of petrol, diesel and aviation fuel.
The Bengaluru compressed biogas (CBG) plant, he said, would produce 13 tonnes of biogas daily, helping improve waste management and reduce expenditure on natural gas imports.
Emphasising the need for reliable electricity to support India’s ambitions in emerging technologies, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, data centres and quantum computing, PM Modi said the country was also expanding its nuclear power capacity to meet clean energy targets. He added that India’s renewable energy capacity had crossed 300 gigawatts.
The Prime Minister said government initiatives were enabling households and farmers to become electricity producers rather than merely consumers.
Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, more than 60 lakh households across the country, including over 40,000 families in Karnataka, have installed rooftop solar systems with central assistance of around Rs 80,000 per household, he said.
He also highlighted the PM-KUSUM scheme, under which more than eight lakh solar pumps were being used to support irrigation for farmers in Karnataka. The initiative, he said, would reduce electricity expenses while creating opportunities for additional income and employment.
“Meaning, the Annadatas of Karnataka are now also becoming Urjadatas,” he said.
PM Modi said the government’s focus on inclusive development, public participation and effective utilisation of taxpayers’ money since 2014 had contributed to the expansion of the middle class and the emergence of a new aspirational class.
He said rising demand for household appliances, two-wheelers, quality education, healthcare, better nutrition and tourism experiences was driving growth across sectors such as automobiles, electronics, tourism and services. The neo-middle class, he added, had become an important engine of India’s economic growth.
Stating that Karnataka and Bengaluru had a significant share of this emerging consumer segment, PM Modi said addressing its aspirations remained among the Central Government’s priorities.
He also highlighted measures aimed at increasing disposable income and strengthening household savings, including income tax exemption for annual income up to Rs 12 lakh, changes in tax deducted at source (TDS) provisions benefiting senior citizens and rental income earners, and reductions in the cost of everyday goods through next-generation GST reforms.
The Prime Minister said the abolition of GST on individual health and life insurance policies had also made insurance more affordable.
Concluding his address, PM Modi said the projects launched in Karnataka would accelerate the state’s development and contribute to the country’s overall growth.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening middle-class households by increasing their savings and purchasing power, enabling families to fulfil their aspirations while contributing to India’s economic progress.
-PIB
