Kochi Metro becomes India’s first network to brand every station

“A key part of KMRL’s commercial strategy is its semi-naming rights, or station-branding, model. The process of awarding semi-naming rights for Vyttila Metro Station is in its final stages. Once it is finalised, within a month, KMRL will earn branding revenue from all its operational stations,” a senior KMRL official said. Station co-branding is expected to generate Rs 6 crore annually.

The initiative supports KMRL’s goal of increasing non-fare box revenue (NFBR) by 51.52% to Rs 50 crore in the current financial year (2026-27), from Rs 33 crore in the previous financial year. Previously, a substantial share of NFBR came from the Rs 209 crore in royalties paid by Axis Bank over 10 years under an agreement for the automated fare collection system. That arrangement, which brought in more than Rs 30 crore annually, ended in FY 2025-26.

KMRL recorded an operational profit of Rs 52.64 crore in FY 2025-26, while its net loss narrowed to Rs 352.49 crore from Rs 430.5 crore the previous year. The original detailed project report, prepared during the planning stage, projected daily ridership of 3.8 to 4.2 lakh after Phase 1 reached full operational stability. Current average daily ridership is 1.25 lakh, prompting KMRL to maximise NFBR.

KMRL managing director G Priyanka has directed department heads to prepare proactively for commercial opportunities along the upcoming Phase 2 corridor, which will run from JLN Stadium to Infopark.

“Five prospective clients have already approached us about semi-naming rights. Once the project is completed, which is expected by Aug 2027, KMRL will introduce semi-naming rights at all 11 stations. It will also offer advertising inside and outside trains, as well as on pillars and medians,” the official added.

KMRL has pursued additional sources of non-operational revenue this year. “We have awarded a median beautification project along the 15km stretch from the Edapally to Tripunithura section. It will help create green spaces along the medians, while also generating advertising revenue through licence fees and ads. The project has been awarded at a licence fee of Rs 30 lakh a year,” he said.

The Metro has begun airing audio advertisements on trains on a trial basis. Ads will play shortly before a train reaches the station specified by the client. Advertising opportunities also include film-poster launches. Film shoots inside stations and ‘Save the Date’ reel-making aboard trains are other NFBR sources. A four-hour film shoot on Tuesday generated Rs one lakh.

“We have also recently invited tenders to lease optical-fibre cables to telecom companies for Wi-Fi internet and other services. We are exploring the possibility of leasing space for telecom towers, and tenders will be issued soon,” the official said.

Rental income from property development at stations has grown, with clients including IIM-Calicut, which has a new building at Cusat station, and ‘i by Infopark’, a nine-storey building at South Station.

KMRL also operates EV charging stations at Muttom and Cusat stations, and leases space for ATMs, banks—including Federal Bank at Aluva station—dormitories at Pathadipalam and MG Road stations, and a hotel at Aluva station.

Meanwhile, the Bliss City project, a 31.43-acre mixed-use development in Kakkanad, is moving into active construction. “The first phase will centre on a distinctive design that brings together commercial, shopping and entertainment facilities. A second parcel of 1.62 acres has been tendered and is now being prepared for handover,” the official added.