The Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Improvement Firm (Okay-RIDE), which is implementing the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Challenge, invited purposes for the put up of managing director on deputation on Monday. With this, Okay-RIDE, a three way partnership of the state and Central governments, is about to nominate a full-time technocrat to the company, which has, till now, had managing administrators from the IAS cadre holding a number of costs within the authorities.
In response to the emptiness discover issued by Okay-RIDE, the candidate should be 55 years outdated or youthful as of March 31, 2025. The job description states that the candidate ought to have a minimal of 25 years of Group A service, of which not less than 5 years should be in a senior administrative grade. The candidate also needs to have not less than fiveyears of expertise in planning, design, and execution of railway-related infrastructure tasks.
The candidate can also be anticipated to have expertise in challenge report preparation, sanction, useful resource mobilisation and coordination with different ministers/stakeholders. The tenure is for 3 years with doable extension as per guidelines. Candidates are given one month to submit their purposes.
Okay-RIDE has not had a full-time managing director since Amit Garg’s switch in August 2022. Since then, solely in-charge MDs have been appointed, together with Gaurav Gupta (August 2022) and Dr N Manjula (November 2023). Manjula, who’s now the incumbent MD, additionally holds a further cost of secretary to the Infrastructure Improvement, Ports and Inland Water Transport Departments.
In June 2024, Minister of State for Railways V Somanna introduced {that a} technically certified full-time MDwould be appointed inside 15 days; nevertheless, no motion was taken. Final week, the Karnataka authorities appointed Dr Vasanthi Amar as particular deputy commissioner for Okay-RIDE.
BJP parliamentarians, together with Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya and Bangalore Central MP P C Mohan, skilled their weapons on the Congress authorities for ‘failing’ to adjust to the promoting necessities of the Railway Board to nominate a full-time MD and for allegedly hampering the progress of this key infrastructure challenge geared toward decongesting Bengaluru.
In response to authorities officers, the necessity for a technocrat as a full-time managing director arises because of the challenge’s building in shut proximity to lively railway traces. “Setting up suburban railway traces alongside lively railway traces with trains working at excessive pace is a posh activity. Subsequently, Okay-RIDE must be headed by a person who can tackle such technically difficult roles to fast-track the challenge,” stated a authorities official.
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The purposes will probably be obtained by the inner HR division of Okay-RIDE, which can display the candidates and shortlist them in step with the job specs. Shortlisted candidates will probably be known as for an interview by a board comprising representatives from the state and Central governments earlier than the ultimate candidate is chosen.
The BSRP spans 149.348 km throughout 4 corridors: Sampige (KSR Bengaluru to Devanahalli, 41.4 km), Mallige (Benniganahalli to Chikkabanavara, 25.01 km), Parijaata (Kengeri to Whitefield, 35.52 km), and Kanaka (Heelalige to Rajanukunte, 46.24 km).
Of all corridors, solely Hall 2 has seen some progress, albeit at a sluggish tempo, with lower than 30 per cent of the work accomplished. Civil work tender was awarded to Larsen & Toubro on August 26, 2022, for Rs 859.97 crore. Nonetheless, L&T has reportedly hinted at withdrawing from the challenge as a result of land acquisition hurdles. L&T has cited the non-availability of land as a major motive for halting work.
Roughly 28.56 acres of personal land and 91 acres of railway land are required for Hall 2, however delays in land handover by South Western Railway and Okay-RIDE have stalled progress. Non-public landowners have obtained court docket keep orders, and a few are demanding larger compensation, additional complicating the acquisition course of.
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The 7.4-km part between Chikkabanavara and Yeshwantpur as a part of Hall 2 was focused for completion by finish of 2025, with the total hall anticipated to be operational by December 2026. Nonetheless, given the present tempo of labor, Okay-RIDE is unsure about assembly its deadlines.
As for the rolling inventory, the preliminary public-private partnership (PPP) mannequin for procuring 306 rail coaches failed as a result of a scarcity of bids. A brand new fairness mannequin with 50:50 funding (Rs 2,135 crore from Karnataka, awaiting Railway Ministry approval) has been permitted by the Karnataka Cupboard in November 2024. Tenders are prepared however await the Central authorities order and Railway Board approval.