Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that his government will suggest changing the name of the Bengaluru Metro to honor Sage Valmiki, the famous author of the Ramayana.
The Chief Minister made the statement on Tuesday during the Valmiki Jayanthi celebrations at Vidhana Soudha.
Central Approval Needed for Dual Proposals
Siddaramaiah made it clear that the state administration can’t change the name of the metro system on its own because it is a cooperative project between the state and the Union government.
Valmiki’s proposal: “I can’t do it on my own.” The metro is administered by both the state and the Center. I will tell people to do it. The Centre has to say yes. He said, “We need to see what happens.”
The declaration comes weeks after Siddaramaiah said he will suggest calling the metro after Basavanna, a philosopher and social reformer from the 12th century, at the end of the Basava Culture Campaign 2025. He remarked, “I would tell the central government to call our metro Basava Metro.”
The state’s share and the public’s response
The Chief Minister said that the Karnataka government pays for most of the metro’s costs—87% of them, compared to 13% from the Centre—but the Union government will make the final choice on whether to rename “Namma Metro.”
People have had conflicting reactions to the suggestion. Some see it as a significant way to show respect for Bengaluru’s culture, while others say that the name has already become a part of the city’s character and should stay.
More Projects
Siddaramaiah also talked about other cultural acknowledgment projects during the Valmiki Jayanti event:
School Curriculum: The government will look at a suggestion by Congress leader V S Ugrappa to add references to Valmiki and the Ramayana to school curricula.
Valmiki Bhavan: The state has already set aside two acres of land for the planned Valmiki Bhavan (Soudha) and said that the next state budget will include money for its development.