Assigning BBMP responsibility to BMRCL MD draws criticism

Criticism grows over dual roles for Bangalore Metro head, raising concerns over city's infrastructure development and efficiency.

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,” Mr. Prasad said.