Bengaluru, 12 Sept

The proposed Metro link between Bengaluru and Hosur, Tamil Nadu’s industrial hub, has sparked controversy. Pro-Kannada groups have raised concerns that the project will lead to an increase in migration to Bengaluru, putting a strain on local resources.

Chennai Metro Rail Limited is currently preparing a feasibility report for a Metro extension from Bommasandra to Hosur, which would be the first interstate Metro line in southern India. However, pro-Kannada activists are questioning why Karnataka isn’t prioritising Metro expansion to its own industrial towns like Ramanagara or Bidadi instead of extending it to Hosur. “There is already a significant influx of people from Tamil Nadu into border areas like Attibele and Electronic City. Extending Bengaluru Metro to Hosur will only make migration easier, putting pressure on jobs, housing and public services meant for Kannadigas,” TA Narayan Gowda, President of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, told Salar News.

BMRCL is carrying out a feasibility study for the route up to Attibele, while CMRL is evaluating the section from Bommasandra to Hosur, said Srivas Rajagopalan, PRO of BMRCL.  Karnataka government is careful about agreeing to the project fully as it is worried about sharing the costs, especially since it has been losing business investments to Hosur. The proposed 23km link would include 12 stations and a metro depot, with 12km of the route in Karnataka and the remaining stretch in Tamil Nadu.

The President of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike said: “If this project gets approved by our government, we will not hesitate to protest against it and that protest can turn violent at any time.”

Gowda said the rise in migrants will impact the culture of the State. “All these migrants might pose a threat to our State language. Kannadigas are already forgetting their language and culture due to the influence of Western Culture. When migrants travel to our State, they will influence the locals as well,” he said.

Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha leader Vatal Nagaraj told Salar News at no cost pro-Kannada organisations will allow the linking of Hosur to Bengaluru Metro. “Hosur rightfully belongs to Karnataka and the government of Tamil Nadu should not even dream of this project. We already have an influx of hundreds of Tamils and other migrants in our cities and we cannot take it anymore.” —Salar News