Kochi metro makes operational profit of ₹5.35 crore in 2022-23, with noticeable increase in daily passenger patronage and other revenue-earning measures

According to Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), a noteworthy rise in daily passenger usage and other revenue-generating strategies allowed the metro system in Kochi to post an operational profit of 5.35 crore in 2022–23. Although the metro was extended from Pettah to S.N. Junction, where there are two stops, operational costs only increased by 15% in 2022–2023. Around 40,000 people per day used the metro in 2018, a year after it first opened (on the 12-km Aluva-Palarivattom line). Due to the pandemic, this spiked to 60,000 per day in the months of October to December 2019 and plummeted to 5,300 in May 2021. In July of that year, it rose to 12,000 following the lockdown. In the months of September and November 2022, there were 75,000 more customers.

The daily footfall in 2023 exceeded one thousand on 24 occasions, while the average daily patronage from September 1 to 21 was 91,742. This was made feasible by installing automatic ticket vending machines and presenting a variety of discount deals for commuters and students. Social media efforts were also helpful, according to Loknath Behera, managing director of KMRL.

Currently, the State government is paying back Metro debts and taxes. According to metro sources, KMRL will also be able to contribute if its financial situation improves along with the launching of the Thripunithura extension of the metro and the future commissioning of the Kakkanad extension.

While non-fare-box revenue increased from 41.42 crore in 2020-21 to 58.55 crore in 2022–23, fare-box revenue increased from 12.90 crore in 2020–21 to 75.49 crore in 2022–23. Additionally, they noted, operating income increased, rising from 54.32 crore to 134 crore. Soon after the Maharaja's Ground-Thykoodam expansion was opened in 2019, the metro achieved an operating profit as daily ridership increased from 40,000 to 80,000 practically every day. As a result, Kochi Metro became the second metro to generate operating profit, behind Delhi Metro.