DCM D K Shivakumar Calls On Union Finance Minister And Seeks Funds For State’s Projects

Bengaluru

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar today called on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and sought financial assistance for various projects including tunnel project in Bengaluru and Mekedatu project. He met the Finance Minister at the Parliament House and submitted a letter seeking financial assistance for several key projects of the State including tunnel project in Bengaluru, extension of metro network in Bengaluru, Upper Bhadra project, Upper Krishna project and Mekedatu project. Bengaluru city is facing severe traffic congestion and hence a 60-km tunnel project is being planned to ease traffic flow in the North-South corridor and East-West Corridor. At Rs 500 crore per km, the total cost of the tunnel project is estimated to be Rs 30,000 crore. The letter sought allocation of Central funds for the State and the NHAI in the next budget as the tunnel project connects National Highways 7 and 4. The letter also sought Mrs Sitharaman's help in getting the approval of the Union government for the extension of Namma metro in Bengaluru as per the extension plan being prepared by BMRCL. Further, the letter also sought Finance Ministry's approval and assistance for a proposal the State government has submitted to the World Bank seeking financial assistance of Rs 3,000 crore to develop flood mitigation infrastructure in Bengaluru city. The letter sought her intervention in obtaining approval of the Union Water Resources Ministry for the Detailed Project Report on Mekedatu project. Mekedatu project envisages building a 67 TMC dam across River Cauvery with the objective of having a buffer stock, produce electricity and provide drinking water to Bengaluru city. The Feasibility Report of the Project has received approval from the Central Water Commission. The Detailed Project Report was submitted in 2019 but it is yet to get approval from the Union Water Resources Ministry.