‘Buy My Ticket Too’: DK Shivakumar Recalls His Light-Hearted Metro Ride With PM Modi

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar turned a routine Metro ride with Prime Minister Narendra Modi into a light-hearted anecdote on Saturday, revealing that he had playfully asked the Prime Minister to foot his fare because he had arrived without money, IANS reported.
“I told him that I did not have money to buy a Metro ticket and asked him to buy my ticket as well. PM Modi paid for the tickets using his own card,” Shivakumar told reporters, recalling the exchange during the Pink Line Metro inauguration on November 13.
A Ride, A Joke And A Bond
The Chief Minister’s remark offered a glimpse into the easy rapport he claims to share with the Prime Minister, even as he belongs to the Opposition Congress. When journalists pressed him on what he and Modi spoke about during their helicopter journey to Mysuru, Shivakumar chose discretion over disclosure.
“I cannot reveal everything that we discussed,” he said.
Asked whether his access to the Prime Minister gave him an advantage even over BJP leaders, Shivakumar framed it as a question of personal chemistry rather than political positioning. “Even our party leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge also treat me with love and respect. Not everyone has leadership qualities. I do not hesitate to speak to anyone. We should maintain good relations with everyone,” he said.
Buses, Metro And Stone
Shifting from political banter to governance, Shivakumar made a pitch for Bengaluru’s commuters to leave private vehicles behind and embrace public transport. He said the state already runs the largest bus fleet in the country despite constrained road space, and argued that the Metro must become an equally central part of the city’s mobility plan.
“Despite having limited road space, we have more buses. Along with buses, the Metro is also very important,” he said.
The Chief Minister also announced a push to make Metro construction more locally rooted. He said he has instructed Metro authorities to use granite and other stone available within Karnataka for station works rather than importing material from elsewhere.
“When high-quality stones are available in our own state, why should we bring them from elsewhere? Using local stone will support our industries and generate employment for local people, from cutting to processing,” Shivakumar said.
He added that he had noticed local granite being used in parts of the Metro during his own ride the previous day.
“I noticed this even while travelling on the Metro yesterday. Local granite has been used at some places. There is no difference in quality between stones brought from outside and those available in our state. Our stones are equally good, and using local resources will give a boost to industries in Karnataka,” he said.
Schools, Screens And Silence On Tapping
Marking Children’s Day, Shivakumar urged young people to treat their phones as tools rather than distractions. He encouraged them to use digital platforms for learning, but warned against allowing screens to eat into time that should be spent studying.
“Use technology, including Google and ChatGPT, to obtain information, but do not waste time unnecessarily on mobile phones. Do not waste the valuable time meant for education at your age. Give priority to education and respect your parents and teachers,” he said.
The chief minister also spoke about his grandson, saying he had spent time with him on Thursday night and expected to meet him again on Friday.
On Rahul Gandhi’s allegation that Prime Minister Modi was involved in phone tapping, Shivakumar struck a cautious note. “I am collecting information. I will speak after getting complete details,” he said.