Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday announced plans to recommend renaming the Bengaluru metro in honour of the sage Valmiki, during the Valmiki Jayanti celebrations. The proposal seeks to pay tribute to the revered poet-saint who authored the Ramayana.
Renaming proposal follows Basavanna suggestion
This Valmiki-centric move follows an earlier announcement by Siddaramaiah to recommend renaming the metro after Basavanna, the 12th-century philosopher and reformer, as part of the Basava Culture Campaign 2025. Speaking at the campaign’s closing event, the Chief Minister said, “I would recommend to the central government to name our metro as Basava Metro. If this were entirely a state government project, I would have announced it already.”
While acknowledging that the state contributes around 87 percent of the metro’s funding, Siddaramaiah noted that renaming requires approval from the Union government, as the project is jointly operated by both state and central authorities. “I cannot do it myself. Both the Centre and the state are running the metro. I will recommend it. The Centre has to agree. We need to see what happens,” he said during the Valmiki Jayanti event.
Valmiki Bhavan project and school curriculum integration
Alongside the renaming proposal, Siddaramaiah also committed to examining a suggestion from Congress leader V. S. Ugrappa to integrate references to Valmiki and the Ramayana into school curricula. Additionally, the state government has allocated two acres of land for a Valmiki Bhavan/Soudha project, with funding expected to be announced in the upcoming state budget.
Public response and debate
The proposal has elicited mixed reactions among Bengaluru residents and social commentators. Some viewed it as a symbolic tribute to cultural heritage, reflecting the government’s commitment to honoring historical figures. Others argued that the metro’s current name, “Namma Metro”, has become part of the city’s urban identity and that the government should prioritise operational improvements and infrastructure expansion over symbolic renaming.
Urban planners and civic experts also highlighted that renaming a major public transport network could involve logistical costs, including updates to station signage, maps, digital systems, and marketing material. Despite this, supporters of the proposal welcomed the move as a cultural and educational initiative, particularly when paired with the Valmiki Bhavan project and curriculum integration.
Conclusion
The CM’s twin proposals to rename the metro and introduce Valmiki-focused educational content reflect an effort to blend urban development with cultural heritage. While implementation will require central approval and careful planning, the move has already sparked widespread public discussion on the balance between city identity, cultural symbolism, and practical governance.