Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said the State government had requested the Centre to help float tax-free bonds to raise resources for taking up the second phase of Namma Metro in Bangalore.
“We have already written a letter in this regard to the Union Finance Ministry,” he told reporters after a meeting with Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu.
“We will decide on the quantum of funds which can be raised after the Union gives its clearance,” he said, and added that Rs. 26,000 crore is required.
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Mr. Siddaramaiah said Mr. Naidu had felt there was some delay in the implementation of the metro work.
To a query on whether the State would seek the Union government’s help to resolve the garbage clearance problem in Bangalore, Mr. Siddaramaiah said: “Garbage clearance is the job of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and we will do it. But whatever technology is available with the Union, we will use it.”
Mr. Naidu, who is a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, assured Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of helping the State.
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“I will take up the issue with the Central authorities and strive for getting clearance if the State brings to my notice the projects which are awaiting clearance,” Mr. Naidu told the Chief Minister during their interaction.
He termed his meeting with Mr. Siddaramaiah, which is the first after he became the Union Minister, as a “courtesy call” and said no specific proposals were made by the Chief Minister during the meeting.