Kochi : As Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) prepares for major network expansions, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has expressed interest in handling operation and maintenance (O&M) of the Metro network. DMRC already plays the O&M roles for Metro corridors in Mumbai and Chennai.
DMRC was awarded a 10-year O&M contract by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd to manage day-to-day operations, station operations, OCC/depot management, and complete asset maintenance for the 33.5-km fully underground Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ corridor. It also secured a 12-year contract with Chennai Metro Rail Ltd to operate and maintain the 116.1-km Phase 2 network. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kochi | Silver Rate in Kochi | Bank Holidays in Kochi | Public Holidays in Kochi Stay updated with the latest Kochi news.
“We are actively pursuing it with KMRL,” a senior DMRC official said. Two retired officers, K Padmakumar (IPS) and Biju Prabhakar (IAS), are the main contenders for the post, said sources. But with a lot of projects coming up, the new management has to take a call. DMRC is already doing the O&M role in one Metro line in Mumbai besides the Chennai Metro,” he added. Currently, KMRL handles technical operations internally, directly recruiting personnel and putting them through months of intensive training before deployment. However, this direct employment model presents distinct operational hurdles, particularly regarding staff constraints. “For example, if a train operator’s vision dips below the required standards, safety protocols mandate their immediate removal from driving duties. KMRL must then redeploy them into administrative roles, creating an ongoing staffing and financial burden for the organization,” the official added. Partnering with DMRC would allow KMRL to leverage the agency’s vast technical expertise and large pool of specialised personnel, relieving the local agency of complex, long-term manpower management. However, a final decision will be taken only after KMRL gets a new managing director. Download the TOI App.
KMRL is also weighing the option of a “partial operation and maintenance” model, balancing internal oversight with outsourced expertise. “With the second phase coming up and the third phase proposal submitted, it will be a huge task for KMRL to handle all the lines alone,” the official said. However, as KMRL plans to expand its footprint to other cities, including Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, there is a discussion at KMRL that rather than manage multiple regional systems alone, it is better to work under a unified O&M framework with an experienced partner like DMRC that could significantly reduce operational expenses and streamline administration. “There was a proposal from DMRC to entrust it with the operation and maintenance of Kochi Metro some time back. We actually didn’t proceed until now.
DMRC had submitted the proposal earlier, but it was put on hold as at that time KMRL only operated the Phase I Metro route.