The Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-RIDE) is finally set to have a permanent Managing Director after operating under interim leadership for close to three years.
According to sources, Lakshman Singh, a 1996-batch officer from the Indian Railway Service of Engineers, is expected to be appointed as the full-time MD anytime soon. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), under the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, cleared the Railway Ministry’s proposal for his posting on November 25.
Speaking to The Hindu, officials familiar with the development said “a formal notification confirming his appointment could be released shortly by the Railway Ministry.” Mr Singh is likely to take over the reins of K-RIDE, the joint venture agency responsible for delivering the much-delayed Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP).
‘Seasoned railway technocrat’
Earlier in June, K-RIDE had advertised the MD post, inviting applications from officers belonging to Central Group ‘A’ services for a deputation tenure of three years. A senior official told The Hindu that constructing suburban rail corridors alongside existing, high-speed railway lines demands specialised technical knowledge and practical engineering experience.
“Developing new tracks in such complex, high-risk zones is extremely challenging. A seasoned railway technocrat will be better positioned to resolve design issues, manage safety concerns, and accelerate execution,” the official added.
K-RIDE is jointly owned by the Karnataka government and the Ministry of Railways, with the State holding a majority 51% share. The State government has traditionally preferred deputing senior IAS officers from its cadre to head the organisation. However, several of these officers lacked in-depth familiarity with railway systems and operational engineering, leading to concerns about project delays and decision-making bottlenecks.
Slow progress
The Managing Director’s post has remained vacant since the transfer of Amit Garg in August 2022. During this period, senior IAS officials including Gaurav Gupta and N. Manjula served as interim heads, while in August 2025, Govinda Reddy was appointed as the in-charge MD.
The BSRP covers 149.35 km across four major corridors, Sampige (KSR Bengaluru–Devanahalli), Mallige (Benniganahalli–Chikkabanavara), Parijaata (Kengeri–Whitefield), and Kanaka (Heelalige–Rajanukunte). Among these, only the Mallige line (Corridor-2) has seen measurable progress, with construction still below the 30% mark.
L&T’s exit
The decision to bring in a full-time MD comes at a sensitive phase for the project. Recently, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) terminated two major civil contracts pertaining to Corridor-2 and Corridor-4. K-RIDE has accused the contractor of violating key terms of the agreement, a development that has added new uncertainties to a project already struggling with delays and engineering hurdles.
Mr. Singh is currently serving in the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) as Chief General Manager (Civil), a role he took up in December 2023. He has previously worked as Additional Divisional Railway Manager, Bengaluru, and as Chief Engineer in South Western Railway (SWR).
Published – November 27, 2025 06:04 pm IST
