Bengaluru: BMRCL faces flak over tender to hire metro drivers on contract basis

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is under fire from its employees’ union after it issued a tender inviting private companies to hire metro train drivers (operators) on an outsourcing basis. This is the first time BMRCL has opted to fill such a critical position through a third-party contract, sparking concerns about passenger safety and job security for local youth.

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The Metro Employees’ Union has strongly opposed this move, alleging that this decision will lead to Kannadigas being deprived of employment opportunities. According to the union, the tender gives the selected private company unrestricted power to appoint anyone of their choice, including individuals from outside Karnataka. Moreover, since BMRCL will not be directly hiring or managing the operators, accountability in case of any mishap becomes unclear.

In a letter to the BMRCL Managing Director, the union warned that outsourcing such a sensitive role compromises safety and opens the door for potential disasters. They further alleged that the tender is a way for BMRCL to escape responsibility in case of accidents or operational errors caused by outsourced drivers.

The employees have demanded that the tender be scrapped immediately and that all driver appointments be made through direct recruitment to ensure safety, transparency, and fairness.