Bengaluru Metro Expansion Marks Victory Over Traffic Congestion, Says BJP MP Tejasvi Surya

Bengaluru, November 13 (Daily Kiran) : Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya expressed on Friday that every extension of the Bengaluru Metro network represents a victory over traffic congestion in the city. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for significantly enhancing public transport and infrastructure development in Karnataka.

Speaking at an event held at the IIM-Bangalore campus, where Prime Minister Modi was present, Surya remarked that Modi’s visits to Karnataka are always festive, often coinciding with the inauguration of major development projects. He highlighted the recent launch of the ‘Pink Line Metro’ as a notable achievement.

Surya noted that in 2014, Bengaluru’s metro network spanned just 7 kilometers. Under Modi’s leadership, it has now expanded to over 103 kilometers, a crucial development for a city grappling with severe traffic jams. “Every new metro line in a city like Bengaluru is a win against traffic congestion,” he stated.

He eagerly anticipated the Prime Minister‘s return next year, when Modi is expected to inaugurate the ‘Airport Metro Line’ and the first corridor of the ‘Bengaluru Suburban Railway.’ Surya also expressed gratitude to Modi for strengthening railway connectivity in Karnataka, mentioning the introduction of 12 Vande Bharat trains.

On Friday, Modi flagged off the 13th Vande Bharat service connecting Bengaluru to Mangaluru and Goa. Surya emphasized that railway allocations for Karnataka have increased 9.5 times over the past decade, with 98 percent of the state’s railway network now electrified.

Additionally, Surya mentioned the laying of the foundation stone for Karnataka’s first ‘Compressed Biogas Plant’ under the Swachh Bharat Urban Fund in South Bengaluru. This project aims to alleviate long-standing issues faced by residents of Bommanahalli, who have suffered from the nearby Karnataka Compost Development Corporation’s waste processing plant for nearly four decades.

He explained that the plant processed 400 to 500 metric tons of waste daily, causing foul odors that affected areas up to three to four kilometers away. Concerns about groundwater contamination due to waste dumping were also raised. Surya recalled past protests, including a 2008 march by schoolchildren demanding the closure of the KCDC plant, which remained unresolved at the time.

Today, under the Swachh Bharat Urban Fund, the Prime Minister is laying the foundation for a ₹166 crore compressed biogas plant, which is expected to significantly improve the quality of life for local residents. The proposed plant will process around 300 metric tons of wet waste daily, providing energy equivalent to cooking gas for approximately 25,000 households and producing organic fertilizer for farmers.

Surya concluded by stating that Bengaluru has fully leveraged the opportunities provided by government policies, emerging as a key player in the construction of a ‘New India.’ He noted that the opening of the private sector in the space industry has allowed Bengaluru startups to manufacture rockets and satellites. The city is also producing iPhones for global markets and developing ‘Tejas’ fighter jets.

“The spirit of a New India aligns perfectly with Bengaluru’s own spirit,” Surya said.