The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : `I had hoped to do a lot under Kumaraswamy'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 16, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

`I had hoped to do a lot under Kumaraswamy'

Staff Reporter

Former Managing Director of BMRCL says he is still at a loss to know why he was shifted

BANGALORE: K.N. Srivastava, who has been transferred from the post of Managing Director of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL), said on Wednesday that he had hoped to do a lot under the leadership of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

"He is a nice man and a young leader. I could have done a lot (under him)," Mr. Srivastava said.

Expressing surprise over his transfer, Mr. Srivastava said the Chief Minister could have "called me and sorted it out."

He said he did not know why he was transferred, but if there was any problem, it could have been tackled through discussions.

Logo

The logo of the BMRCL was released on Monday at Raj Bhavan in the absence of Mr. Kumaraswamy.

V. Madhu, Joint Secretary, who is now on Central deputation as Joint Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, will replace Mr. Srivastava.

Mr Madhu served as Managing Director, Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL), and as Commissioner, Commercial Taxes, before taking up the New Delhi assignment.

Mr. Srivastava recalled that he had reached the New Delhi Airport on Tuesday after a meeting with the Union Minister for Urban Development S. Jaipal Reddy when his office informed him of his transfer in the evening. Barely 15 minutes before he had got an SMS informing him of the postponement of Wednesday's programme to inaugurate the new office of the BMRCL.

He said he had pointed out to the office of the Chief Minister that the postponement would be embarrassing.

Mr. Srivastava said he had tried hard to put the project on the rails.

"I had informed the Chief Minister to be ready to lay the foundation stone for the project." He had never expected his transfer.

Mr. Srivastava's transfer comes at a time when the Rs. 6,300-crore mass rapid transport system for the city has entered a crucial phase.

While the project is likely to get the final approval from Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in a week's time, the Indian Government is to sign an important memorandum of understanding with the Japan Government by the month-end. The MoU is for securing a loan of Rs. 1,800 crores from Japan Bank. The MoU can only be signed after the CCEA approval.

Mr. Srivastava said he would extend full cooperation to the new incumbent.

He hoped that the transfer would not affect the project, though Mr. Madhu may need some time to settle down.

`No comment'

Mr. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday declined to comment on the transfer of Mr. Srivastava.

Mr. Kumaraswamy, speaking to presspersons at a function to release the coalition Government's Common Minimum Programme here, said he did not want to be drawn into such issues.

The Government had repeatedly stated that it was committed to metro rail and the project would be implemented to a set plan.

There need not be any doubt on that score, he said.

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