Bengaluru suburban rail to get full-time MD after 3 years; Lakshman Singh's name get Centre's nod

Bengaluru suburban rail project

Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-RIDE), the agency implementing the long-delayed Bengaluru suburban rail project, is set to get a full-time managing director (MD) after more than three years.

According to sources, Lakshman Singh, an Indian Railway Service of Engineers of the 1996 batch, is likely to be appointed the managing director after the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), under the Union ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions, approved railway ministry's  proposal on November 25.

The rail ministry is expected to issue a notification soon.

Also, read: Bengaluru suburban rail to get full-time MD soon; railways invite applications

The railways had in June called applications for the position at K-RIDE, its joint venture with the Karnataka government.

Singh, now on deputation with Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) as chief general manager (civil) since December 2023, earlier served as additional divisional railway manager, Bengaluru, and as chief engineer in South Western Railway (SWR). He was involved in various projects, including development of India’s first AC railway terminal at Byappanahalli and construction of one of SWR’s longest bridges across the Bhima river.

Also, read: Bengaluru suburban rail: After L&T’s exit, K-RIDE floats fresh civil work tenders for Benniganahalli-Chikkabanawara corridor

Three years without a full-time head

K-RIDE has been functioning without a full-time MD since July 25, 2022.

In August that year, IAS officer Gaurav Gupta was given additional charge of MD after the state government refused extension to Amit Garg after his three-year term ended. In November 2023, the state government appointed N Manjula, secretary, Karnataka Infrastructure Development Department, as MD, giving him additional charge. In August 2025, Govinda Reddy was named the in-charge of the agency.

Also read: Bengaluru suburban rail needs full-time MD familiar with railway tech: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Minister flagged need for domain expertise

Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw repeatedly flagged the need for a full-time MD with domain expertise and blamed slow land acquisition by the Karnataka government for delays in the Rs 15,767-crore project.

The government approved the 148-km Bengaluru suburban rail project in October 2020 with a 2026 deadline. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone in June 2022, he promised completion of the four-corridor network within 40 months. On November 4, K-RIDE floated fresh tenders for civil works on the Byappanahalli-Chikkabanavara section after L&T exited its contracts for both the Mallige Line and the Kanaka Line (Heelalige-Rajanukunte). The dispute arose after K-RIDE allegedly failed to hand over the required land, prompting L&T to suspend work on the 25-km Mallige Line and the 46-km Kanaka Line in March 2025.

Tenders for the remaining corridors - Sampige Line (KSR Bengaluru–Devanahalli) and Parijaata Line (Kengeri–Whitefield) - are still pending, pushing the project further behind schedule.

Also read: Bengaluru suburban rail project near standstill amid Karnataka–Centre tussle