A file photo of Yeshwantpur metro station in Bengaluru.
A growing chorus of citizens and transport activists has voiced concern over the State government’s decision to assign M. Maheshwar Rao, the Managing Director of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), the additional responsibility of Chief Commissioner of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
The activists say this move could hamper the city’s critical infrastructure development. Mr. Rao, a 1993-batch IAS officer, was appointed BBMP Chief Commissioner in April, even as he continued as the head of BMRCL.
This assigning of dual responsibility has drawn criticism from those who argue that both roles demand full-time attention, especially with the Yellow Line Metro set to open soon and the city’s civic body undergoing major structural reforms.
“BBMP is not a lightweight body. It deals with hundreds of issues daily. On the other hand, BMRCL is a technically complex and high-stakes agency involving both the State and Central governments,” said K. N. Krishna Prasad, a railway and urban mobility activist.
“Expecting one officer to juggle both is unfair and impractical. It’s like putting one foot in two boats. Coordination suffers, accountability slips, and public interest is sidelined,” he added.
The timing of assigning Mr. Rao the dual roles has further intensified the public criticism. Bengaluru is currently undergoing a governance overhaul under the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024, which proposes splitting BBMP into multiple smaller corporations to improve administrative efficiency. Simultaneously, BMRCL is grappling with setbacks on its Yellow Line due to delays in coach procurement and other bottlenecks.
“There’s simply too much at stake in both roles for one person to manage. The metro is a lifeline for us, and BBMP directly affects the quality of our daily lives. We need full-time officials with a singular focus and accountability. Otherwise, the city will pay the price”K. N. Krishna PrasadRailway and urban mobility activist
“There’s simply too much at stake in both roles for one person to manage. The metro is a lifeline for us, and BBMP directly affects the quality of our daily lives. We need full-time officials with a singular focus and accountability. Otherwise, the city will pay the price,” Mr. Prasad said.
Activists also pointed to a troubling precedent. Anjum Parvez, a former BMRCL MD, previously held an additional portfolio in the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Department.
“It feels like the government is playing musical chairs with key posts. There’s no clarity, no continuity. Citizens are left to bear the brunt of delays and inefficiencies. Bengaluru deserves better,” said Shashank Rao, a tech professional from HSR Layout.
K-RIDE too needs full-time MD
At the same time, there has been a call for the appointment of a full-time Managing Director (MD) for Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-RIDE), the joint venture of the Centre and the State that is executing the Bengaluru suburban rail project.
Currently, a part-time MD appointed by the State government is supervising the project. Since July 25, 2022, K-RIDE has been without a full-time MD.
N. Manjula, who serves as the Secretary to the Karnataka Infrastructure Development, Ports, and Inland Water Transport Department, also holds additional charge of K-RIDE along with the Kannada and Culture Department.
In March, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the necessity of appointing a full-time MD at K-RIDE.
To a question raised by Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya in the Lok Sabha on March 19, Mr. Vaishnaw replied, “Currently, a part-time MD appointed by the Karnataka government is supervising the project. There is a requirement to appoint a full-time MD who is familiar with railway technology.”
It may be noted that K-RIDE, in which the State government holds a 51% stake, is implementing the ₹15,767 crore Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP).
Published – May 08, 2025 01:15 am IST