Kochi: Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has submitted a formal proposal to the Kerala state government to rename the organisation as ‘Keralam Metro Rail Limited’. KMRL Managing Director Loknath Behera submitted the recommendation seeking in-principle approval from the state government.

The key proposal aims to streamline the planning and execution of urban transport projects across the entire state, rather than limiting operations to Kochi. Having successfully completed Phase 1 from Aluva to Thripunithura, Kochi Metro is currently operating at an operational profit. Construction for Phase 2, spanning from Kaloor JLN Stadium to Kakkanad SmartCity, is slated for completion within a year.

In addition to rail services, KMRL successfully manages the Kochi Water Metro and electric mobility initiatives.

The state government has also tasked KMRL with the construction and supervision of upcoming metro projects in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. In light of these expanding responsibilities, Loknath Behera noted that the city-centric name ‘Kochi Metro’ no longer aligns with the company's broader scope of operations across Kerala.