Bengaluru, April 15, 2026: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday submitted an 18-point memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Centre to address long-pending demands related to infrastructure, water resources, grants, and development projects in the state. The charter was handed over when Siddaramaiah received the Prime Minister at HAL Airport in Bengaluru upon his arrival for a day-long visit that included a programme at the Adichunchanagiri Math in Mandya.
The five-page memorandum highlights delays in project approvals, fund releases, and clearances, which the Chief Minister said have created a perception of inequity despite Karnataka’s substantial contribution to the national economy in sectors like IT, manufacturing, agriculture, and services. Siddaramaiah framed the demands in the context of cooperative federalism, stating that resolving them would accelerate the state’s progress and strengthen equity and partnership between the Centre and states.
“Recurring delays in approvals and financial releases have created a perception of systemic inequity. Addressing these concerns will reaffirm the spirit of true cooperative federalism and strengthen our shared vision for the development of India,” Siddaramaiah noted in the memorandum.
# Key Demands in the 18-Point Charter
The memorandum covers a range of sectors, with several specific financial and project-related requests:
Infrastructure and Railways: Revival of the proposed Railway Coach Factory in Kolar (for which the state has already allocated 1,123 acres of land); inclusion of the Bengaluru-Mysuru stretch in the high-speed rail corridor; early release of funds for the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project; and launch of the Bengaluru-Mumbai High-Speed Rail Corridor. It also seeks sanction and upgradation of National Highway projects, noting that Karnataka has not received any major new ones in the past 12 years.
Water and Irrigation Projects: Expedited appraisal and approval of the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir Project (which aims to provide 67 TMC of drinking water for Bengaluru, regulated releases to Tamil Nadu, and 400 MW of hydropower), with a request for national project status. Other demands include release of ₹5,300 crore (announced in the 2023-24 Union Budget) for the Upper Bhadra Project; wildlife clearance for the Kalasa Nala Diversion Project under the Mahadayi Tribunal Award; gazette notification of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II) Award; declaration of the Upper Krishna Project (Stage III) as a national project; and Karnataka’s rightful share in river inter-linking schemes such as the Godavari-Cauvery link.
Financial Grants and Dues: Release of ₹17,554 crore pending under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM); ₹5,495 crore in revenue deficit grants; ₹2,860 crore in 15th Finance Commission grants to Gram Panchayats; and a special grant of ₹6,000 crore for infrastructure development in Bengaluru (and mentions of support for Kalyana Karnataka). It also seeks ₹5,000 crore annually for Kalyana Karnataka under Article 371(J).
Other Key Requests: Establishment of an AIIMS in Raichur; clearances for the Sharavathy Pumped Storage Project (2,000 MW); inclusion of Karnataka’s 56% reservation policy in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution; and consideration of certain Other Backward Castes for inclusion in the Central List of Scheduled Tribes. The list also calls for setting up public sector units in north Karnataka.
Siddaramaiah emphasised that timely intervention on these issues is essential not only for Karnataka’s development but also for upholding the principles of cooperative federalism, ensuring the state can continue contributing effectively to India’s inclusive and sustainable growth.
No immediate detailed response from Prime Minister Modi on the specific demands was reported during the airport interaction. The development comes amid ongoing discussions on Centre-state relations, with southern states often highlighting issues of fiscal equity and project delays.
This memorandum reflects Karnataka’s push for greater central support on critical infrastructure and welfare projects while invoking the spirit of collaborative governance between the Union and the states.
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