KOCHI: Chief Minister V D Satheesan’s open criticism of Kochi Metro Rail Corporation (KMRL) managing director Loknath Behera over the proposed renaming of Kochi Metro as Keralam Metro has put the spotlight on the latter’s continuation in the post, with his current term set to end on August 31. With just nine days remaining, the government is yet to issue any order on his extension, replacement, or temporary charge.
Satheesan and Congress leaders had questioned KMRL’s authority to issue a release on the proposed name change without consulting the government. The controversy has added to speculation over whether Behera, who is currently serving his second term, will be given another extension.
Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden had also written to the chief minister opposing the proposal and demanded that the existing name be retained. He termed the move “strange and unacceptable” and said KMRL’s expertise could be used for planning and executing urban transport projects across the state without altering the company’s name.
“If separate names linked to specific locations are sought in the future, they could be considered then,” Hibi said.
Behera clarified that the name change was only a proposal and that the decision to accept or reject it rested with the state government. He said the proposal was made in light of the metro policy requiring a common name when multiple metro projects come up in the same state. He cited precedents in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra and said the proposal was considered while preparing the detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed Thiruvananthapuram metro.
The proposal has now been dropped.
“It is a mutual decision and if the government is not interested, that will not be pursued and the proposal has been dropped,” Behera told TNIE.
He said his continuation would not depend on the controversy. However, no official communication has yet been made to him on whether he will continue or be replaced.
Sources close to Behera said a decision on the continuation of an MD is usually made beforehand and that the delay is unusual. They said neither an extension nor an arrangement to give him temporary charge until the September-October transfer period has been communicated.
KMRL is a 50:50 joint venture between the Centre and the state government, and Behera is considered to have an advantage in terms of his equation with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). This is seen as a factor that could assume significance in the decision on his continuation as MD. Behera was appointed KMRL MD in August 2021 for three years and was later given a two-year extension by the LDF government. He succeeded Alkesh Kumar Sharma, who served in the post from September 2019 to August 2021.
The uncertainty comes as KMRL has reported an improvement in its financial and operational performance during Behera’s tenure. Its net loss fell from Rs 430.50 crore in 2024-25 to Rs 352.49 crore in 2025-26, while it recorded an operating profit of Rs 52.64 crore, its fourth consecutive year of operating profit.
Total operating revenue rose from Rs 49.25 crore in 2017-18 to Rs 266 crore in 2025-26 and ridership rose from 3,52,113 to 1,01,413 during the period. As much as Rs 76.33 crore (34%) of the operating revenue in 2025-26 came from non-fare sources such as station commercialisation, advertising, and property development.
“It was during Behera’s tenure that the integration of Kochi Metro with Water Metro gained attention. Measures including accessibility for persons with disabilities, senior citizen facilities, women’s safety initiatives and integration with feeder buses and Water Metro have also supported ridership,” a source said.
Clarifies stance
KMRL managing director Loknath Behera clarified that the name change (renaming of Kochi Metro as Keralam Metro) was only a proposal made in light of the metro policy requiring a common name when multiple metro projects come up in the same state.
He cited precedents in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra and said the proposal was considered while preparing the detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed Thiruvananthapuram metro