Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Nov 6: A total 175 kms of Metro train services will be operational by the end of 2026, promised Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday.
Travelling by the experimental Metro Green Line on Tumkur Road from Nagasandra to Madavara near the Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre, he said 30 kms of Metro lines will be completed by next year.
Shivakumar, who travelled along with BJP MP Tejaswi Surya, Nelamangala MLA Srinivasaiah and Dasarahalli MLA Muniraju from Yeshwanthpur Metro Station till Madavara, said approval has already been received for taking up the third phase of Bengaluru Metro expansion.
Flyovers and underpasses are being built at Yeshwanthpur and Manjunathanagar Metro Stations besides at Chikkabidarakallu station.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the BMRL presently has 33.46 kms of green line and 40.5 kms of purple line, he said the Bengaluru Metro carries more travellers than in the Metros of Delhi and Mumbai.
CM hasn’t done anything wrong in MUDA
Answering questions from media persons, he said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has responded to the summons from the Mysuru Lokayukta to appear in connection with the alleged MUDA scam. “He could have sought a week’s time in view of the assembly by-elections. But as a law abiding citizen, he has appeared and answered all questions from Lokyaukta police,” he said making it clear that the Chief Minister has not done anything wrong.
The allegation against Excise Minister R B Thimmapur in the alleged Rs 900 crore excise scam is “politically motivated,” he said.
Shivakumar said Bar Owners are free to lodge their complaints to State Governor or any other authority and law will take its course.
Responding to BJP demand for the resignations of Thimmapur over the alleged excise scam, as well as Women and Child Welfare Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar over the suicide of a second division clerk in Belagavi, he said: “BJP can make any demands. But there no question of resignations merely because of their demands,” he added.