District Collector given additional charge as MD of Kochi metro, with Loknath Behera’s term ending on August 30
A new MD is awaited at a time when the metro’s ₹1,957-crore Kakkanad extension is due for commissioning in a year, after which KMRL is expected to shift focus to the third phase
On August 29, 2026, the State government extended Loknath Behera's additional charge as managing director of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) for a temporary period. Behera, a 1985 batch Indian Police Service officer, will assume this additional charge from August 31, 2026. He was initially appointed as MD of KMRL in 2021, following his superannuation as State Police Chief.
During his tenure, KMRL achieved a profit of ₹52.64 crore in 2025-26, and its net loss fell from ₹430.50 crore in 2024-25 to ₹352.49 crore. The tenure of Behera as head of KMRL also saw the launch of the Kochi Water Metro in 2023. Behera's suggestion to change KMRL's name to Keralam Metro Rail Limited sparked controversy, but Chief Minister V.D.
Satheesan clarified that there would be no name change. A new MD is awaited as KMRL's ₹1,957-crore Kakkanad extension is set to be commissioned in a year, with the agency expected to focus on the third phase - the metro's airport extension. A senior official of KMRL emphasized the need for a technocrat or a serving civil servant to be appointed as MD, considering the challenges in executing metro extensions and addressing land acquisition issues.
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