Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Satheesan Says Government Unaware of Proposed Kochi Metro Renaming
Kochi Metro Rail Limited suggested changing its name to Kerala Metro Rail Limited.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan said the government did not approve or know about the idea.
He said he found out by reading news reports.
He also said the metro agency had not discussed the proposal with the government.
Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden opposed the proposed change.
Satheesan said the government would distribute welfare pensions early to help people celebrate Onam.
He said recent floods and landslides had caused sadness, while the state was also facing financial problems.
He would not comment on an ongoing investigation involving Veena T. He also said a decision about a report on a planned football match would be made soon.
V D Satheesan said the government neither approved nor knew about the proposal to rename Kochi Metro Rail Limited.
He said he learned of the proposal through newspaper reports after Kochi Metro Rail Limited issued a release on Thursday.
Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden wrote to the chief minister opposing the proposed change to Kerala Metro Rail Limited.
Satheesan said welfare pensions would be distributed early for Onam despite financial difficulties and recent floods and landslides.
He declined to comment on the Enforcement Directorate investigation involving Veena T and said a decision on a football-match report would come soon.
- Who
- Chief Minister V D Satheesan, Kochi Metro Rail Limited, and Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden.
- What
- Kochi Metro Rail Limited proposed changing its name to Kerala Metro Rail Limited, but Satheesan said the government had not approved or been informed about it.
- When
- Kochi Metro Rail Limited issued its release on Thursday; Satheesan commented on Friday after learning of the proposal that morning.
- Where
- The remarks were made in Kerala, including at Thiruvananthapuram and Satheesan’s constituency, North Paravur; the proposal concerns Kochi Metro.
- Why
- Satheesan said the proposal was made without consulting or informing the government; the articles do not state KMRL’s reason for proposing the name change.
Government and Political Opposition
Metro Agency Proposal
Name change
Government and Political Opposition
Satheesan said the government had not approved, considered, or been informed about renaming Kochi Metro Rail Limited, and Hibi Eden opposed the move.
Metro Agency Proposal
Kochi Metro Rail Limited issued a release proposing the name Kerala Metro Rail Limited; the articles do not provide the agency’s stated reason or response to the criticism.
Consultation
Government and Political Opposition
Satheesan said no discussion had taken place with the government and criticized the proposal for being made unilaterally.
Metro Agency Proposal
Kochi Metro Rail Limited announced the proposal, but the articles do not say whether it had obtained or sought further government approval.
- Current name
- Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL)
- Proposed name
- Kerala Metro Rail Limited
- Government position
- Satheesan said the government had neither approved nor been informed about the proposal.
- Announcement
- KMRL issued a release about the proposed change on Thursday.
- Political opposition
- Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden wrote to the chief minister opposing the proposal.
- Onam assistance
- Welfare pensions due on the first of the following month would be distributed early for Onam.
- Other matters
- Satheesan said a decision on a Sports Department report about a proposed Argentina-Lionel Messi football match would come soon and declined to comment on an ongoing ED investigation.
