Kharola bows out, Mahendra Jain takes charge of BMRCL

Mahendra Jain, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department, has taken additional charge  of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).  

Outgoing managing director Pradeep Singh Kharola handed over the charge to Jain at a low-key event on Sunday. Sources said Jain  would continue as the BMRCL managing director until the government zeroes in on a new official. He can also assume full-time responsibility, they added.

Meanwhile,  the state Cabinet is expected to take up  on Monday  the detailed project report on building a  metro line to the Kempegowda International Airport. Sources said the Cabinet was likely to clear the project given the upcoming Assembly elections. The government is keen on the  development of Bengaluru and clearing a metro project that connects the airport is the best way to show that, the sources said.

As per the DPR, the 29-km metro line to the  airport will run from Nagawara via RK Hegde Nagar, Jakkur, Yelahanka and Hejjala before turning right at the trumpet flyover. BMRCL officials have said they had ensured the project needed minimum land acquisition.

The line requires one acre of land each for the stations except the two stations  at the  airport where the Bangalore International Airport Limited has come forward to invest in the project.

The project is estimated to cost Rs 5,900 crore and the government is exploring ways to get private investment under the innovating funding model.

With the new managing director of the BMRCL also holding a key position in the urban development department, the project is expected to get a fillip once it gets Cabinet clearance.