Bengaluru, 28 Feb

A delegation of BJP legislators and MPs from Bengaluru on Friday met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and sought higher allocation of funds in the upcoming State budget for the City's development.

The delegation led by party State BJP President BY Vijayendra and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka asked for allocation of Rs 150 crore for each Assembly segment in the city.

Relook into the Metro fare hike, allocation of funds for constituencies represented by first time MLAs, and holding of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) polls at the earliest are among the issues that were highlighted at the meeting.

Siddaramaiah who also holds the finance portfolio is scheduled to present the budget for 2025-26 on 7 March, marking his 16th budget.

Speaking to reporters here after meeting the Siddaramaiah, Vijayendra said, when BJP's BS Yediyurappa and Basavarj Bommai were Chief Ministers earlier Rs 6,000-8,000 crores were given to BBMP for the development of Bengaluru in every budget.

Noting that infrastructure projects like flyovers and others are going on at a slow pace, the state BJP chief said, priority should be given for completion of such projects by allocating more funds for them.

He said, during the meeting, Bengaluru MPs PC Mohan and Tejasvi Surya suggested that the Chief Minister send necessary communication to the fare fixation committee to reduce the metro fare that was hiked recently.

Vijayendra in response to a question said, the party will discuss the proposal to divide BBMP into multiple corporations. "BBMP polls should not be postponed citing creation of Greater Bengaluru Authority as the reason," he said.

Vijayendra said the party will also raise the issue of an "unscientific" tunnel road that has been planned in the City.