BMRCL employees’ union oppose plan to outsource metro train pilots and operations staff

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The BMRCL Employees’ Union has raised objections to a recent move by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to outsource key operational roles, including Metro Train Pilots (MTPs), train operation supervisors, and train operation managers, for the upcoming Reach-5 and Reach-6 lines of Phase II.

Speaking to The Hindu, Suryanarayan Murthy, vice-president of the union, said that the BMRCL has floated a tender to contract private firms for the operation of metro train services on these stretches, as well as at the depots. “This is a government-owned company, and such critical posts should not be handed over to private players. We will oppose this move,” he said.

Mr. Murthy warned that outsourcing such essential roles would directly impact BMRCL employees, particularly when it comes to career progression and job security. “Even though the BMRCL has said that selected candidates will be trained, this still dilutes the importance of in-house staff,” he added.

However, a senior BMRCL official clarified that the outsourcing decision has been taken primarily to address the current shortage of trained staff and to ensure that services on the new metro lines can begin on time. “Chennai and Hyderabad metros have adopted similar outsourcing models, which help bring down operational costs while maintaining efficiency,” the official said.

The official added that the move is a temporary measure aimed at meeting operational deadlines and that regular recruitment for permanent staff will continue as planned.