The District Collector has been given an additional charge as MD of Kochi Metro, with Loknath Behera’s tenure ending on August 30

Loknath Behera | Photo credit: THULASI KAKAT

With Loknath Behera’s extended tenure as CEO of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) ending on August 30, the state government on Saturday (August 29, 2026) issued a Government Order (GO) temporarily assigning the additional charge of MD of the metro agency to Ernakulam District Collector G. Priyanka.

The additional payment will be withheld from August 31.

A 1985-batch Indian Police officer, Mr. Behera was appointed as the MD of KMRL in 2021, after his retirement as the state police chief. The CC said that Mr. Behera was appointed to head the metro agency on a re-employment basis for a period of three years, which was subsequently extended twice (by the then state government).

During his tenure as KMRL chief, the Kochi Metro had an operating profit of ₹ 52.64 crore in 2025-26, among others. That year also saw its net loss fall from ₹430.50 crore in 2024–25 to ₹352.49 crore. During this period, the Kochi Water Metro was also launched in 2023.

Line to change name

Mr. Behera, who earlier this month wrote to the state government proposing to change the name of KMRL to Keralam Metro Rail Limted, sparked a controversy, with people’s representatives and others from Kochi opposing the move tooth and nail. Finally, Chief Minister VD Satheesan clarified that there will be no name change.

The new MD is expected at a time when the ₹1,957-crore Kakkanad metro extension is due to be commissioned in a year, after which KMRL is expected to shift its focus to the third phase — the airport metro extension.

A senior official of the agency said on condition of anonymity that a technocrat or a serving civil servant should be appointed as the MD of the metro agency, in view of the delay in implementing the metro extension and resolving land acquisition issues. “Such a person will be able to coordinate better with the relevant central authorities for relevant permits and loans and also with the district administration on matters such as land acquisition,” he added.

Arjun Prakash, admin of Kochi First, a social media collective that campaigned for a technocrat or person with proven credentials as KMRL chief, criticized the state government’s “inordinate delay” in appointing Mr. Behera’s successor. “Only a dedicated person who has a vision, is still in service and also has a proven track record like VJ Kurien, who played a key role in the realization of the Cochin International Airport, must be appointed as the MD of the metro agency. Care should be taken that the person does not have regional preferences,” he said.

He thanked Mr. Beher for getting the Centre’s approval for the 11.20 km extension of the Kakkanad Metro and for helping keep KMRL as one of the few well-run agencies in Kerala. Mr. Prakash further said that the new director of the metro agency should be given additional charge as head of the Kochi Metropolitan Transport Authority (KMTA), which was launched with much fanfare but lapsed due to non-allocation of staff and resources.

KMTA was the first of its kind in India with legislative backing.

Published – 29 Aug 2026 21:48 IST