In a significant development, IAS officer Maheshwar Rao M has been appointed as the new Managing Director of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), succeeding Anjum Parwez, who served in the position for almost two and a half years.
Anjum Parwez will continue as the additional chief secretary of the rural development and Panchayat Raj department, a role he concurrently held during his tenure as BMRCL's MD. Maheshwar Rao's appointment received approval from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, which equally shares governance in BMRCL. However, the ministry has explicitly stated that Rao should not be assigned additional government responsibilities without prior consent.
The decision to appoint a full-time MD for BMRCL comes after concerns were raised about the efficient execution of crucial projects like Namma Metro under the additional charge arrangement. Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya had urged the intervention of the Centre to expedite the selection process for the new MD. With Maheshwar Rao at the helm, expectations are high for focused leadership in advancing the development of Bangalore's metro infrastructure.
