Karnataka Budget 2026: Big Decisions For Bengaluru City! Namma Metro, Jobs, To New Airport: Key Highlights

The Karnataka chief minister, Siddaramaiah, has presented a record-breaking 17th Budget for the state on March 6, 2026. He said this Budget has been designed with a vision to build a bright future for the state. Over seven crore Kannadigas will be impacted by the Budget for 2026-27 including citizens of Bengaluru, the capital city of the state.

In his Budget speech, Siddaramaiah said, "Karnataka's achievements in information technology, biotechnology, start-ups, electronics, and aerospace sectors are attracting global investment and talent."

Adding, he said, "Bengaluru is not merely a city, it is a land of countless dreams. From the administration of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda to the present-day start-up revolution, this city has maintained its unique identity."

"Our government's primary objective is to make Bengaluru the world's most liveable city," Siddaramaiah added.

Here are major projects announced for driving Bengaluru city:

1st. The development of ward road and infrastructure in five City Corporations of Bengaluru have been undertaken at a total cost of Rs.1,255 crore.

2nd. White-topping work for 158 KM of road length has been undertaken at a total cost of Rs.1,700 crore.

3rd. A project to develop the "Outer Ring Road" from Silk Board Junction to K.R. Puram Metro Station into a global-standard corridor is being undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs.450 crore.

4th. Tenders have been invited and implementation is underway for the upgradation of primary Storm Water Drains and lake development works at an estimated cost of Rs.273 crore.

5th. The state government continued the grant of Rs 7,000 crore for the development of Bengaluru.

6th. For the long-term durability of roads, white topping of more than 450 km of roads will be taken up at an estimated cost of Rs.3,000 crore in the next three years.

7th. It is proposed to undertake the beautification of 175 junctions, upgradation of 500 km footpaths and the construction of 100 Skywalks over the next three years by using the internal resources of the Bengaluru City Corporations.

8th. The development/upgradation works of the Storm Water Drains under the World Bank assisted Water Security and Disaster Resilience Program are being implemented through tenders at an estimated cost of Rs. 2,000 crore.

9th. Further, the government proposed to complete a total of 41km of additional metro lines during the financial year 2026-27. This will benefit approximately 15 lakh commuters daily.

It needs to be noted that 'Namma Metro' is the second-largest metro rail network in the country. The current operational network spans 96 km, benefiting 10 lakh commuters every day. Out of Rs 67,460 crore CAPEX incurred till date. The state share is Rs 59,376 crore and the central share is Rs 8,084 crore. Hence, the Central share accounts to only 12% against the 88% State share.

10th. To provide drinking water to approximately 1.40 crore people of Bengaluru city, a total of 2,225 MLD of water is being supplied through the Phases I to V of the Cauvery Water Supply Project. The government has now formulated the Cauvery Phase VI project at a cost of Rs. 6,939 crore with JICA assistance to supply an additional six TMC of water.

11th. For mitigating traffic congestion in Bengaluru, the land acquisition process for the construction of the 73 km long Bengaluru Business Corridor Phase-1 from Tumkuru Road to Hosur Road is progressing rapidly. Compensation is being distributed to farmers on a priority basis. It is aimed to complete this road within four years.

12th. Under the BOOT (Build-Own-Operate-Transfer) model, the North-South Corridor project from Hebbal Junction to HSR Layout Silk Board and the East-West Corridor project from K.R. Puram to Mysore Road, covering a total of 40 km of tunnel roads, have been approved at an estimated cost of Rs.40,000 crore. Also, in the first phase, tenders have been invited for the 17 km long North-South Corridor project at a cost of Rs.17,780 crore.

13th. In 2025-26, to strengthen the transmission network, KPTCL had established 100 new substations. Similarly, in 2026-27, 100 new substations will be established.

14th. To decongest Kempegowda International Airport, which has emerged as the country's third-largest airport, a second airport will be developed in Bengaluru for which a feasibility report will be prepared after obtaining technical advice from Airports Authority of India (AAI).

15th. Nine railway routes are being implemented on 50:50 cost sharing basis with the Ministry of Railways. An expenditure of Rs. 2,950 crore has been incurred towards land acquisition and Rs. 2,682 crore has been spent on construction works. In the budget for 2026-27, Rs. 600 crore has been earmarked for this purpose.

16th. For the first time, under the new Industrial Policy 2025-30, an additional incentive of 5% for the most backward regions and 3% for the background regions is being provided to promote industrial development beyond Bangalore.

17th. Also, Rs.30,000 crore of investments and 75,000 employment opportunities are expected in the Dharwad Industrial Node of the Bangalore-Mumbai industrial corridor. In order to develop this node, Rs. 600 crore will be provided for acquisition of 1,000 acres of land. Of this, Rs. 200 crore will be provided in the current financial year

Other Key Highlights For Bengaluru In The Budget 2026-27:

1. He announced setting up CT scan centers for livestock at veterinary hospitals at Bengaluru and Bidar Veterinary Colleges for the first time in the State, to accurately diagnose diseases in animals.

2. He announced an estimated outlay of Rs 650 crore for filing 259 tanks
with 308 MLD of treated sewage water in the second phase from the Vrishabhavathi Valley of Bengaluru city. The project will fill up to 119 tanks in Nelamangala and Doddaballapura taluks from Lift-4 Gopalapura tank.

3. He also announced setting up Digital Library & Study Centre at Dharwad and Bengaluru for students preparing for competitive examinations, at a cost of Rs.10 crore each.

4. Meanwhile, an MoU has been signed with Azim Premji Foundation for construction of 1,000-bedded Charitable Super Speciality Tertiary care and Organ Transplant Hospital at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases at Bengaluru.

5. Also, a egional Centre of Jayadeva Cardiovascular Institute will be established in BBMP Multispeciality Hospital at Govindarajanagar, Bengaluru, in collaboration with Greater Bengaluru Authority, at a cost of Rs.15 Crore.

6. The state government will provide Rs 1 crore each to establish IVF Centres at Vani Vilas Hospital, Bengaluru and Gulbarga Medical College, Kalaburagi.

7. Additionally, Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru will be renamed as Shantaveri Gopalagowda Hospital. Rs.10 Crore will be provided for construction of boys' hostel for MBBS and BDS students of Bangalore Medical College.

8. The government also focused on De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Centres" that will help children below 18 years who are suffering with drugs addiction. This will be established in tie-up with NIMHANS in Bengaluru and DIMHANS in Dharwad.

9. Furthermore, the state declared ten working women's hostels for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes employed women with a capacity of 50 each will be started in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Mangaluru, Belagavi, and Kalaburagi.

10. Also, a Sri Maharshi Valmiki Administrative Soudha will be constructed at Sumanahalli in Bengaluru at a cost of Rs.50 crore to accommodate the Directorate of Scheduled Tribes, and the Corporation and other offices under the Department.

11. The government also announced reforms for students of backward class. They have decided to set up 0 post-matric hostels of 150 strength for Backward Classes students in high demand districts of Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Dharwad, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Davanagere, Shivamogga and Bellary.

12. As demand for working women's hostels is high, four new working women's hostels with a capacity of 100 will be started in Bengaluru.

13. Rs 5 crore each will be distributed to develop institutional infrastructure for Minority Development and Training Centre in Asirvanam Benedictine Monastery's two acre of land at Kengeri in Bengaluru.

14. Not just that the Karnataka Housing Board will construct a 80,000-seating capacity cricket stadium in the name of 'KHB Surya Kreeda Grama' for hosting international sporting events in Anekal Taluk of Bengaluru urban district.

15. The government will start a pilot project in Bengaluru for breast and cervical cancer screening and vaccination programme to prevent cervical cancer.