Metro short of tech staff

Metro short of tech staff
R Krishnakumar | TNN

Bangalore: This is a call for the men who matter in putting Bangalore’s showpiece rail network on track. Grappling with a crunch in specialized engineers for Namma Metro, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) Ltd is seeking assistance from Indian Railways. Following a request made at the Centre, the railways have passed three on to BMRC.
The BMRC sought seven engineers and got three. However, the organization needs more engineers in specialized areas, said BMRC managing director V Madhu.
Namma Metro has 25 engineers across divisions, including designs and contract, corridors, traction, rolling stock, signalling and telecommunication. Madhu said there was room for another 12 engineers to cover the first phase of Namma Metro. “We’ve been receiving applications from civil engineers but the requirement is for engineers in specialized streams with experience in metro rail engineering. At the moment, only the railways and other metro rail corporations can offer such resources,’’ said Madhu.
The Indian Railways and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) — both on expansion mode — themselves face a shortage of engineers and are not likely to offer substantial help. The empowered committee on the Delhi Mass Rapid Transit System had in November 2007 discussed the issue, following which a request was made to the railway ministry to spare officers for BMRC and DMRC. The MoR responded in December, issuing deputation orders for three officers to BMRC.
Madhu pointed out that hefty pay packets offered to engineers in the private sector have also led to slow recruitment in public sector projects like the Metro. “With the boom in infrastructure projects, civil engineers have become a prized lot. The crunch is not unique to metro projects,’’ he said.
BMRC has been calling for applications for the posts of executive engineers, assistant executive engineers as well as non-technical posts. Madhu said recruitment of employees in other divisions was continuing without hassles.
STAFF SHORTAGE
Shortage of engineers in specialised streams. Namma Metro has 25 engineers; needs 12 more. Indian Railways, DMRC can help but face shortage. Three railways engineers have joined Namma Metro.