PM Modi Inaugurates, Lays Foundation for Bengaluru Metro Projects Worth ₹22800 Crore

Bengaluru, Aug 10: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the Yellow Line of the Bangalore Metro, worth ₹7,160 crore, and laid the foundation stone for Phase 3 of the project, valued at over ₹15,610 crore. He also flagged off three Vande Bharat Express trains from KSR Railway Station, marking a major push for Karnataka’s urban and rail infrastructure.

Addressing a large gathering, the Prime Minister hailed Bengaluru as “a symbol of New India’s rise” — a city that blends philosophical wisdom with technological expertise and has proudly placed India on the global IT map. He paid tribute to the city’s founder, Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, and its presiding deity, Annamma Thayi, noting that the metro projects reflect Kempegowda’s vision of a city rooted in tradition while scaling new heights of progress.

The Yellow Line, connecting RV Road to Bommasandra, spans 19 km with 16 stations, easing travel between Basavanagudi and Electronic City. Once operational, the Phase 3 Orange Line will work in tandem with the Yellow Line to handle up to 25 lakh passengers daily. Modi praised Bengaluru Metro’s innovative public-private funding model, with corporates such as Infosys Foundation, Biocon and Delta Electronics part-financing key stations.

The Prime Minister also flagged off three Vande Bharat Express trains — Bengaluru–Belagavi, Nagpur–Pune, and Amritsar–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra — aimed at boosting tourism, trade, and connectivity.

Modi’s visit to Karnataka was his first since Operation Sindoor, which he described as a demonstration of India’s capability to destroy terrorist hideouts deep across the border and force Pakistan “to its knees within hours.” He credited technology and Make in India defence initiatives, lauding Bengaluru and Karnataka’s youth for their contribution.

On the economy, Modi underlined that India is the fastest-growing major economy, climbing from the 10th to the fifth-largest in 11 years, and “rapidly moving towards the top three.” He pointed to major expansions in metro networks, airport infrastructure, waterways, health and education facilities, as well as record growth in exports — from electronics to automobiles — as proof of the “Reform, Perform, Transform” agenda.

Reaffirming his vision for a Viksit Bharat, Modi said the journey will advance hand-in-hand with Digital India, driven by AI, semiconductor manufacturing, and indigenous tech products. “Our next big priority should be becoming self-reliant in technology,” he said, urging Karnataka to lead in manufacturing and uphold the “Zero Defect, Zero Effect” standard.

Calling for continuous reforms, he encouraged states to adopt competency-based training for officials, identify regions needing targeted development, and align efforts with central initiatives like the Aspirational Districts Programme.

The event was attended by Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Union Ministers Manohar Lal, HD Kumaraswamy, Ashwini Vaishnaw, V. Somanna and Shobha Karandlaje, among others.

With the Yellow Line’s launch, Bengaluru’s operational metro network now extends beyond 96 km, serving millions in one of India’s fastest-growing cities.