The Impressive TimesBengaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated, dedicated to the nation, laid the foundation stone for and flagged off development projects worth more than ₹15,600 crore in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The projects cover metro, railway and energy infrastructure and are aimed at strengthening connectivity, improving energy security and accelerating the state’s development.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said infrastructure plays a vital role in a nation’s development, creating new opportunities for employment, industry and economic progress. He said improved connectivity and access to development opportunities for all sections of society also strengthen efforts to combat poverty.
Modi highlighted the inauguration of the new Pink Line of Bengaluru Metro, saying it would improve connectivity to major educational institutions, including IIM Bengaluru, as well as business, technology and commercial centres. He noted that the expansion of Namma Metro from 17 kilometres in 2014 to more than 100 kilometres has made Bengaluru the third city in India, after Delhi-NCR and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, to achieve the milestone.
PM lays the foundation stone, inaugurates and dedicates to the nation various projects in Bengaluru, Karnataka on November 13, 2026.
Describing Bengaluru as India’s Silicon Valley, the Prime Minister said the city contributes more than one-third of the country’s IT exports and remains a major centre of innovation and economic growth. He added that the expansion of the metro network reflects the government’s focus on improving ease of living and ease of travel, particularly for middle-class families.
On railway infrastructure, Modi said Indian Railways was undergoing a transformation, with modern trains and upgraded stations reflecting India’s identity. He highlighted the development of more than 60 Amrit Bharat stations in Karnataka and said the state had received four Amrit Bharat stations along with two railway doubling and electrification projects.
The Prime Minister also flagged off a new Vande Bharat train connecting Karnataka with Goa. He said the service would offer passengers along Karnataka’s coastal belt, including Mangaluru, a new semi-high-speed rail travel experience. This comes shortly after Karnataka received its first Vande Bharat Sleeper train.
Emphasising the importance of energy security, Modi referred to global developments around Iran and the Gulf region and said India had strengthened its energy infrastructure over the past decade to manage external challenges.
He outlined three key energy-related projects in Karnataka: an LPG project at Mangaluru that will add 80,000 metric tonnes of storage capacity, the Devangonthi Marketing Terminal to improve the supply of petrol, diesel and aviation fuel, and a compressed biogas (CBG) plant in Bengaluru with a daily production capacity of 13 tonnes.
According to the Prime Minister, the CBG facility will support better waste management while reducing dependence on imported natural gas.
Highlighting India’s progress in renewable energy, Modi said the country’s renewable energy capacity had crossed 300 gigawatts. He also stressed the importance of reliable electricity as India seeks to strengthen its position in emerging technologies, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, data centres and quantum computing.
The Prime Minister said government initiatives were enabling households and farmers to become electricity producers. Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, more than 60 lakh households across the country, including over 40,000 in Karnataka, have installed rooftop solar systems with Central assistance. He also referred to the installation of more than eight lakh solar pumps for farmers in Karnataka under the PM-KUSUM scheme.
Modi said these initiatives were helping farmers reduce electricity expenses and create additional sources of income, describing them as a step towards making farmers both ‘Annadatas’ and ‘Urjadatas’.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the growing aspirations of India’s middle class and the emergence of a Neo Middle Class, which he described as an important driver of economic growth. He said rising demand for automobiles, electronics, education, healthcare, tourism and other services was creating new opportunities for industries and employment.
Referring to measures aimed at increasing household savings, Modi mentioned the income tax exemption for annual income up to ₹12 lakh, changes in tax deduction rules benefiting senior citizens and rental income earners, and next-generation GST reforms. He also highlighted the removal of GST on personal health and life insurance premiums.
Concluding his address, the Prime Minister said the development projects launched in Karnataka would accelerate the state’s growth and contribute to the vision of a developed India. He reiterated the government’s focus on increasing middle-class savings, strengthening purchasing power and enabling families to participate in the country’s economic progress.
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