Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for various development projects in Bengaluru with a total value exceeding ₹15,000 crore, focused on enhancing connectivity and energy security. The projects are intended to strengthen Karnataka's infrastructure and support Bengaluru's identity as a technology hub that accounts for more than one-third of India's IT exports.
Infrastructure and Connectivity Projects
The centerpiece was the dedication of the new Pink Line of Bengaluru Metro, which improves connectivity to IIM Bengaluru, several educational institutions, and major business, technology, and commercial centers. The Namma Metro network has expanded significantly from 17 kilometers in 2014 to over 100 kilometers today, making Bengaluru the third city in India after Delhi-NCR and Mumbai Metropolitan Region to achieve this milestone. Railway infrastructure received substantial attention, with over sixty stations in Karnataka upgraded to Amrit Bharat Stations, including Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagaluru, Sakleshpur, and Subrahmanya Road. These stations feature modern facilities and special amenities for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Karnataka also received four new Amrit Stations and two doubling and electrification projects during this event. The state recently received its first Vande Bharat Sleeper train and a new Vande Bharat train connecting Karnataka with Goa, particularly benefiting Mangaluru and coastal route travelers with semi-high-speed rail service. The Prime Minister noted that Karnataka's railway budget has increased ninefold over the past 10-12 years.
Energy Security Initiatives
Three significant energy projects were launched to enhance India's energy security. The LPG project in Mangaluru will increase the country's LPG storage capacity by 80,000 metric tonnes. The Devanagundi Marketing Terminal will organize and improve reliability of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel supply. A Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant in Bengaluru will produce approximately 13 tonnes of biogas daily, contributing to waste management and reducing natural gas import costs. The speech emphasized India's progress in renewable energy, with capacity crossing 300 gigawatts, and mentioned increasing nuclear power plants for clean energy. Specific schemes were highlighted, including the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana where over 60 lakh families nationwide have installed rooftop solar plants, including 40,000 in Karnataka, with central government assistance of approximately ₹80,000 per family. Under the PM-KUSUM scheme, over 8 lakh solar pumps are being installed for irrigation by farmers in Karnataka.
Economic Context and Middle-Class Focus
The address connected infrastructure development to poverty reduction, noting that approximately 50 crore citizens have emerged from extreme poverty in recent years. The Prime Minister emphasized the government's focus on middle-class savings and aspirations, highlighting several policy measures: exemption of annual incomes up to ₹12 lakh from income tax, changes to TDS rules providing relief to senior citizens and those earning rental income, next-generation GST reforms making everyday goods cheaper, and removal of GST on personal health and life insurance to make insurance more affordable. These measures are intended to increase middle-class savings, strengthen purchasing power, and contribute to economic progress through growing demand from what was described as a new "Aspirational Class" seeking consumer goods, better education, nutrition, healthcare, and tourism experiences.