K-RIDE to get full-time managing director

Bengaluru: K-RIDE, the government agency implementing the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP), has initiated the process to appoint a full-time managing director. 

In a vacancy notice issued on June 2, the Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited invited applications from Central Group 'A' service officers for a three-year deputation as the K-RIDE MD. 

Applicants must be under 55 years of age as of March 31, 2025, and have five or more years of experience in planning, designing or executing railway-related infrastructure projects. 

July 5, 2025, is the last date to apply. 

The top post at K-RIDE, a joint venture between the Government of Karnataka and the railways, has been a longstanding bone of contention. 

Karnataka, which holds a 51% stake in K-RIDE, has preferred appointing state cadre IAS officers, while the railways has pushed for appointing a technocrat, citing the project's technical challenges. 

The current MD, Manjula N, is also the secretary of the Infrastructure Development, Ports and Inland Water Transport Department. 

K-RIDE had to rescind the previous advertisement for the MD's post on the railways' directions. 

In November 2023, Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, had flagged "serious issues with technical capabilities within K-RIDE". 

The 149-km BSRP, which will have four corridors running along the city's railway network, was to be completed by October 2025, a deadline set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

However, the project has run into delays because of poor coordination between the railways and K-RIDE. Groundwork began only on two corridors and has since come to a halt. Given the pace of work, the revised deadline (2028) also looks unrealistic. 

BMRCL invites applications for two key posts

Namma Metro has issued a notification seeking applications for two key roles: director (operation and maintenance) and director (project and planning). 

July 2 is the last date to apply for both positions that will be filled on a contract/deputation basis. Both directors will also serve on the BMRCL board. 

D Radhakrishna Reddy retired as director (P&P) in May after serving the BMRCL for 16 years. 

MN Dhoke was director (O&M) until February. Sumit Bhatnagar, Director (Signalling and Electrical), succeeded him, holding additional charge. 

The director (O&M) will oversee operations and maintenance of operational assets, commercial and safety of the metro network, and work closely with the project wing on opening new lines and maximise fare revenue. 

The director (P&P) will be overall responsible for all construction activities, planning, design, tendering, contract administration, construction monitoring, commissioning, etc.