Ernakulam district collector G Priyanka will temporarily hold charge of the managing director of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (Kochi Metro Rail Ltd, KMRL) from Monday after the tenure of the incumbent managing director Loknath Behera ends on Sunday. The decision was announced a day before the expiry of Behera's term. Priyanka will perform the additional responsibilities alongside her duties as Ernakulam district collector. The government has not indicated how long she will continue in the post or when a permanent appointment will be made. Behera, a 1985-batch Indian Police Service officer, was appointed KMRL managing director on a re-employment basis for three years in August 2021 and his tenure was subsequently extended by the previous Left Democratic Front government for two years. He was serving his second term when it concluded. Officials did not provide further details on contractual terms or the process for selecting a successor. The development follows a recent controversy over a proposal to rename Kochi Metro as Keralam Metro, which attracted public criticism from the Chief Minister and drew queries from Congress leaders about a KMRL release on the issue that the party said had not been cleared with the government. The dispute had fuelled speculation about whether Behera would receive another extension. Observers said the timing of the announcement was notable given the public debate. It is learnt that the United Democratic Front government is considering new faces for the post and that retired Indian Administrative Service officers Biju Prabhakar and Jiji Thomson are among those under consideration, according to local sources. Sources close to Behera said decisions on continuation of an MD are usually taken in advance and that the delay in this case was unusual. The government and KMRL have not confirmed candidate names or a timeline for a permanent appointment. Priyanka will therefore oversee KMRL operations in the interim while administrative and political consultations continue. Stakeholders await a formal notification on the appointment and any policy decisions arising from the renaming controversy.