BENGALURU, 17 MARCH

Even as pro-Kannada activists and political leaders accused the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) of sidelining local candidates in its latest recruitment drive for train operators, Namma Metro officials on Monday played down the charge as misrepresentation of facts.

The recruitment notification, issued on 12 March, calls for 50 train operators on a contract basis and accords priority to candidates with prior experience in metro systems such as those in Hyderabad and Chennai. Activists argue that this criterion unfairly excludes local aspirants who lack such experience, fuelling the language debate in Karnataka.

Speaking to Salar News, Aam Aaadmi Party (AAP) State President Mukhyamantri Chandru said it was an attempt to deliberately exclude Kannadigas. "Most senior positions in BMRCL are occupied by non-Kannadigas. Now, even qualifications for operator-level jobs are being manipulated to deny locals their rightful opportunities. This injustice must stop," he said.

The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) and Metro Employees’ Union also raised concerns, stating that the BMRCL should train local candidates instead of bringing in experienced workers from outside the state. Various pro-Kannada groups have warned of protests, including disruptions of metro services, if their demands are not responded to within 15 days.

Dismissing the allegations, the BMRCL said the notification was being misinterpreted. Chief Public Relation Officer BL Yeshwanth Chavan said the recruitment was a temporary measure to address an immediate shortage. "Permanent hiring takes time. The knowledge of Kannada is preferred, and even experienced Kannadigas working outside Karnataka can apply," he said.

Speaking to Salar News, BMRCL Managing Director Maheshwar Rao said the notification will be reviewed to check for errors. "We will go through the notification once again. If there are any issues, we will rectify them," he said.

"We are bound by government policies. Metro operations in Bengaluru have been running for over a decade, and if there are eligible Kannadigas with the required skills, we will certainly hire them. These are contract-based positions, and we will revisit the notification if needed," he said. — Salar News

THE NOTIFICATION

"BMRCL invites applications for the post in the Operation & Maintenance Wing of BMRCL on 'Contract Basis' for a period of 5 years which may be extended based on the performance of the employee. The applicant must have post qualification experience of minimum 3 years as Train Operator (TO) in any Metro Rail Operations..."