Bengaluru: In a significant administrative reshuffle, the Karnataka government on Wednesday appointed Dr P. C. Jaffer (IAS:2003:Karnataka) as the new Managing Director of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). He replaces Ravishankar J, who has been transferred after serving as the head of the metro corporation for nearly a year.
Dr Jaffer had already been holding the additional charge of Managing Director since the end of June 2026 after Ravishankar proceeded on leave. His appointment now formalizes his leadership of the state-run metro corporation at a time when Bengaluru’s flagship urban transport project is facing mounting pressure over delayed expansion works.
Alongside the appointment, the government also named Reju MT (IAS:2005:Karnataka) as the new Secretary (Budget & Resources) in the Finance Department, succeeding Dr Jaffer.
Jaffer Takes Charge of Metro Corporation
Before being appointed as BMRCL Managing Director, Dr Jaffer was serving as Secretary to Government (Budget & Resources) in Karnataka’s Finance Department, a position he had held since August 2023.
Known for his administrative experience across finance, education, rural development, governance, and infrastructure, Dr Jaffer now assumes responsibility for one of Karnataka’s most critical public infrastructure organizations.
Having already overseen BMRCL as additional charge for over a month, he is expected to ensure continuity while accelerating pending metro expansion works.
Change Comes Amid Delays in Metro Expansion
The leadership change comes at a crucial juncture for BMRCL.
Ravishankar J had taken charge as Managing Director in July 2025 and remained at the helm for nearly one year. During this period, however, the metro corporation continued to face criticism over repeated delays in commissioning several planned metro corridors.
Multiple stretches of the Bengaluru Metro have missed their scheduled inauguration timelines, while no new metro project has entered the construction phase during the past four-and-a-half years, highlighting the challenges confronting one of India’s fastest-growing urban transit systems.
With Dr Jaffer now taking over full-time, expectations are high that the corporation will improve project execution and expedite the delivery of pending corridors.
Who is Dr P. C. Jaffer?
Dr P. C. Jaffer is a 2003-batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre with more than two decades of administrative experience across diverse sectors.
Born on 31 May 1976, he hails from Kerala. His father, Aboobackar, was an Arabic teacher. Dr Jaffer is fluent in Malayalam, Kannada, English and Hindi.
His academic credentials are among the strongest in the Karnataka bureaucracy. He holds:
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
- Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.)
- Master of Education (M.Ed.)
- Postgraduate degree in Psychology
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education
His blend of academic expertise and administrative experience has earned him recognition as one of Karnataka’s accomplished civil servants.
Diverse Administrative Experience
Over his career, Dr Jaffer has served in several important administrative and governance positions.
In the Finance Department, he was responsible for managing the state’s budgeting process, fiscal planning and resource management. He also contributed to initiatives aimed at improving transparency in public finance.
His earlier assignments include serving as:
- Deputy Commissioner of Mandya
- Deputy Commissioner of Bidar
- Registrar, Karnataka Lokayukta
- State Project Director
- Commissioner
- Director
- Chief Executive Officer in various government institutions
- Deputy Secretary and Assistant Commissioner in earlier phases of his career
His experience spans public finance, district administration, education, institutional governance and infrastructure management.
Empanelled for Joint Secretary-Level Posts
Reflecting his administrative credentials, Dr Jaffer has also been empanelled by the Government of India for appointment to Joint Secretary or equivalent-level positions in the Central Government.
His appointment as Managing Director of BMRCL adds another significant responsibility to his distinguished career.
Reju MT Moves to Finance Department
Following Dr Jaffer’s elevation, the Karnataka government appointed Reju MT (IAS:2005:Karnataka) as the new Secretary (Budget & Resources) in the Finance Department.
The move ensures continuity in one of the state’s most crucial financial portfolios while allowing Dr Jaffer to focus entirely on the Bengaluru Metro’s expansion and operational priorities.
Focus Shifts to Delivering Metro Expansion
BMRCL remains one of Karnataka’s most strategically important public sector undertakings, with several ongoing and proposed metro corridors expected to significantly improve Bengaluru’s urban mobility.
As the corporation’s new Managing Director, Dr P. C. Jaffer will be expected to accelerate stalled projects, improve execution timelines and strengthen project management as the state seeks to expand metro connectivity across the rapidly growing city.
