Was govt right in shifting Metro Rail MD?

Was govt right in shifting Metro Rail MD?
The Agreement Says Central Approval Must
S Kushala | TNN

Bangalore: On Monday, when the new government effected a major shake-up in the bureaucracy, one posting that probably caught everyone by surprise was that of BMRCL managing director V Madhu. For, the powers that be missed out an important rider put forth by the government of India before signing the approval papers for the Rs 6,400-crore Namma Metro Rail project — not to transfer BMRCL managing director without prior approval of the Centre.
Madhu’s appointment to BMRCL was not a normal posting done by politicians at their whims and fancies. His CV was sent to the Union urban development department and scrutinized by a panel of experts. While he was appointed by the state government in March 2006, the approval for his posting came in February 2008.
The Union government has a 25% stake in the project. The approval was given for Metro Rail on May 11, 2006 when the agreement papers were signed — under the institutional agreement, the terms and conditions clearly stated that the “Managing Director of BMRCL shall be appointed by the Government of Karnataka with prior concurrence of Government of India.’’
On February 27, 2008, the Metro Rail Cell of the Union ministry of urban development, wrote to state urban development department principal secretary K Jothiramalingam about Madhu’s appointment as MD, BMRCL. In the letter, the Union government requested the state government to ensure the appointment continues during the construction period till December 2011.
“The project being one of the rail-based urban public transport, it calls for consistency in the incumbency of the post of managing director who is the crucial functionary at the field level. In order to ensure that the project moves with the required thrust and drive, realises the set targets without time overruns, the appointed MD should continue during the project construction till Dec 2011. In the event of the need arising for any change in the incumbency for unavoidable reasons, such a step shall be taken only with the prior approval of the central government,’’ the letter said. ‘Change at the top isn’t good for BMRC’ Bangalore: Reacting to the transfer of BMRCL managing director V Madhu, official sources in the secretariat said this was a crucial post as far as development of Bangalore was concerned and should not be treated as part of the normal re s h u f fl e. “Such a massive project with Union g ove r n m e n t funding and tie-up cannot have frequent changes at the top, that too at a time when the project is taking shape on the ground,” they said.
Over the past 18 months, the project has witnessed a lot of backstage work — tendering, civil work, land acquisition hitches and compensation settlement, recruitment of qualified engineers and contract work. From June, people can actually see civil works happening in Reach One of the projects — from MG Road to Byappanahalli — building the piers, placing the pier cap and finally fitting the superstructures. From August, work will commence simultaneously on Magadi Road and in Yeshwantpur and Jayanagar. By March 2009, tunnelling work for 9.15 km underground rail will begin.
Reach One is scheduled to be completed by 2010 and the entire 33-km phase I network by 2011.
Work completed so far
Foundation work on MG Road till Trinity Circle; digging work on Old Madras Road stretch Designs finalized for 150 rolling stock; tenders invited for the Rs 1,000 crore work Casting work is on
Project details
Four corridors of Bangalore will be connected with a 33-km network of Metro Rail at a cost of Rs 6,400 crore A modified project to integrate Metro Rail with the proposed high-speed rail link to BIA is also on the cards