PM Modi Unveils ₹15,600-Crore Projects Across Karnataka

Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed an extensive tour of Karnataka on November 13, inaugurating and laying the foundation stones for key infrastructure and development projects valued at over 15,600 crore rupees. The day-long schedule spanned major urban centres, focusing on public transit, regional rail connectivity, science education, and institutional expansion across Bengaluru and Mysuru.

The prime minister began his visit in Bengaluru by attending the golden jubilee celebrations of Prashanti Kutiram, the residential campus of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana. During the event, Modi laid the foundation stone for the institution's Golden Jubilee Administrative Block and launched its new off-campus centre in Thiruvananthapuram, alongside commemorations marking the birth centenary of H.V. Sheshadri.

Urban mobility featured prominently on the Bengaluru itinerary as the prime minister flagged off passenger services on the Namma Metro Pink Line. Following the inaugural ceremony, Modi undertook a metro ride from Tavarekere to the IIM Bangalore Metro station, interacting with officials and commuters while assessing the capital city's expanding rapid rail network.

In an effort to bolster regional transportation links, Modi also flagged off the new Bengaluru-Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express. The semi-high-speed service is designed to significantly improve travel times between Karnataka's technology capital, the coastal belt, and Goa, addressing long-standing commuter demand along the scenic Western Ghats corridor.

The central government also dedicated key energy infrastructure during the tour, notably unveiling an 80,000-metric-tonne underground liquefied petroleum gas storage cavern in Mangaluru. Regarded as the largest underground LPG storage facility of its type in India, the strategic cavern is expected to strengthen domestic fuel security and streamline supply chains across southern states.

Later in the day, the prime minister travelled to Mysuru to participate in environmental and educational initiatives. At Bharat Vann, Modi joined a community tree plantation drive organized under the national Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign, emphasizing ecological conservation alongside urban development.

Science and public education took centre stage with the official inauguration of the COSMOS-Mysuru Planetarium, located on the University of Mysore campus at the foothills of Chamundi Hills. Developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, the facility stands as India's first planetarium equipped with an advanced LED dome, offering high-resolution astronomical visualisations for students and researchers.

The wide-ranging package of projects reflects New Delhi's continued emphasis on upgrading core transit infrastructure while simultaneously fostering research, energy logistics, and holistic health institutions. State officials and industry leaders noted that modern transit systems such as the metro expansion and Vande Bharat trains are critical to keeping pace with Karnataka's rapid economic and population growth.

As newly launched transit lines and energy assets transition into regular operations, state and central agencies are slated to monitor commuter integration and regional logistics efficiency over the coming weeks. The completed projects are expected to provide immediate capacity relief to southern rail networks and expand educational tourism in Mysuru.