KMRL Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for General Manager, Manager (Finance) and Executive (HR) Posts

Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), a 50:50 joint venture of the Government of India and the Government of Kerala, has issued three separate advertisements dated 04 August 2026 covering four regular posts across Operations & Maintenance, Finance and Human Resources.

Phase I of the Kochi Metro project is now fully operational, and Phase II — JLN to Info Park, covering approximately 11 km with 11 stations — has been sanctioned by the Government of India. The recruitment reflects that expansion.

Before you read further, one clarification worth making. Some listings describe this as a “Chief Engineer” recruitment. The senior post advertised under Advt. No. KMRL/HR/2026-27/06 is General Manager (Operations & Maintenance), which on the re-employment route carries the designation Chief Operations & Maintenance Manager. Read the notification by advertisement number rather than by job title.

KMRL Recruitment 2026 at a Glance

1. General Manager (Operations & Maintenance) — E8

Advt. No. KMRL/HR/2026-27/06

This is a single post, fillable on any one of three routes — regular, deputation or re-employment. KMRL states plainly that the notification is intended primarily to fill the post of General Manager (O&M), and that Additional General Manager (O&M) will be considered only if no suitable GM-level candidate is found.

Educational Qualification

• Regular: B.E./B.Tech in any branch of Engineering from an AICTE or UGC recognised University or Institute.
• Deputation: Serving IRTS / IRSSE / IRSEE / IRSME / IRSE officers of Indian Railways or its subsidiaries, OR B.E./B.Tech in any branch of Engineering.
• Re-employment: Retired IRTS / IRSSE / IRSEE / IRSME / IRSE officers of Indian Railways, OR B.E./B.Tech in any branch of Engineering.

Experience

• Regular (GM): Minimum 20 years post-qualification experience in operations, construction or maintenance of Signalling, Telecom, Rolling Stock or Traction — of which at least 15 years in executive or managerial cadre — in Railways, its subsidiaries or sister companies, Rail PSUs, or Metro Rail Corporations.
• Deputation (GM): Serving Indian Railways officer presently in SAG pay scale Rs 1,44,200–2,18,200 (Level-14, CDA) or Rs 1,20,000–2,80,000 (IDA), or equivalent.
• Deputation (AGM): Serving Indian Railways officer presently in SG pay scale Rs 1,23,100–2,15,900 (Level-13, CDA) or Rs 1,00,000–2,60,000 (IDA), or equivalent.
• Re-employment: Retired officers of Railways, Rail PSUs or Metro Rail companies at the corresponding scales above.

All candidates, on any route, should have sufficient exposure to planning, procurement and contract management in Metro or Railway. For deputationists from Railways, KMRL may relax total experience by up to two years at its sole discretion.

Pay and Age

Re-employed candidates who perform well at interview may be considered for an enhancement of 10% on the consolidated pay, at management’s sole discretion. Re-employment runs initially for two years, extendable up to age 65 or a maximum of five years from initial appointment, whichever is earlier.

2. Manager (Finance) — E3

Advt. No. KMRL/HR/2026-27/07 — One post, regular

Articleship and industrial training are not counted as post-qualification experience — a point that materially affects CA candidates calculating their seven years.

Desirable: knowledge of SAP, and candidates currently with a listed or IND AS compliant company. Private sector applicants must presently have a CTC of at least Rs 12.00 lakh per annum, with Form 16 or a payslip as proof.

KMRL also notes that meeting the seven-year threshold confers no right to the E3 position: based on suitability, performance, previous experience and pay drawn, management may offer the next lower grade, E2.

3. Executive (HR) — E1 / Asst. Executive (HR) — E0

Advt. No. KMRL/HR/2026-27/08 — Two posts, either E0 or E1, regular

As with Finance, the grade offered is at management’s discretion. Meeting three years of experience does not automatically secure the E1 position, and the decision on E1 versus E0 is final and binding.

The age windows differ by post and are all reckoned as on 1 August 2026. Our free age eligibility calculator will settle which bracket you fall into.

Selection Process

For the Manager (Finance) and Executive/Asst. Executive (HR) posts, selection consists of an interview and/or written test or computer-based test, decided by KMRL depending on how many candidates are shortlisted. For the General Manager (O&M) post, shortlisted applicants are called for interview.

• Only shortlisted candidates are notified, and communication is by the email ID registered with KMRL only. No other mode is attempted.
• KMRL reserves the right to shortlist, to offer a grade lower than applied for, and to cancel the selection process or not fill the position without assigning a reason.
• Any corrigendum or addendum is displayed only on kochimetro.org, so applicants should check the site periodically.
• No TA/DA is paid for attending the selection process.
• KMRL may maintain a wait list for future vacancies as per its Recruitment Rules.

Documents Required

Applicants must attach documents substantiating age, qualification, experience, CTC and — where applicable — company annual turnover:

• Proof of age: SSLC / Matriculation or Birth Certificate issued by the Competent Authority
• Educational qualifications: all year or semester mark sheets and certificates
• Past employment: service certificate showing date of joining, date of relieving and pay scale
• Current employment: appointment letter, proof of date of joining and latest payslip
• CTC: Form 16 or payslip showing total income
• Annual turnover: latest annual report extract or other valid document

The service certificate requirement is specific — it must carry joining date, relieving date and pay scale. A plain relieving letter does not establish the experience being claimed. To size scans or merge certificates before upload, our free photo and signature resizer and JPG to PDF converter both work in the browser.

How to Apply

1. Read the instructions on kochimetro.org/careers thoroughly.
2. Fill the online application form through the link on the KMRL website.
3. Upload scanned copies of all supporting documents. An application without them is treated as incomplete.
4. Submit on or before 27 August 2026.

Applications sent by fax or email are not entertained. Deputation candidates must forward their application through proper channel; they may also apply online, which is treated as an advance copy, but shortlisting remains subject to receipt through proper channel.

Other Conditions

• Applicants employed in Government, Quasi-Government, PSUs, Rail PSUs or Metros must produce a No Objection Certificate at the time of the test or interview.
• Regular KMRL employees are eligible for upper age relaxation of up to 5 years when applying to a higher post under direct recruitment. Those who have worked on contract in KMRL are eligible for up to 3 years, provided their contract performance was graded ‘Very Good’.
• Initial pay is ordinarily fixed at the minimum of the pay scale, though management may fix it higher through advance increments on the selection committee’s recommendation. Pay protection is granted to eligible employees as per Government guidelines.
• Candidates attempting to influence or interfere with the selection process are summarily rejected and disqualified from future KMRL vacancies.
• Candidature is liable to be rejected at any stage — including after joining — if information provided is found false or not in conformity with the eligibility criteria.

Important Dates

Important Links

Related Recruitment

Engineering candidates should also see RVUNL Recruitment 2026 for 2,005 Junior Engineer and allied posts, and FDDI Recruitment 2026 for Chief Engineer and Superintending Engineer posts closing 16 August.

Finance and management candidates can compare SIDBI SO Recruitment 2026, and for other PSU roles see NGEL Recruitment 2026 and HAL Management & Design Trainee Recruitment 2026. A full list of live vacancies is on our latest jobs page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many posts are there in KMRL Recruitment 2026?

Four across three advertisements — one General Manager (Operations & Maintenance) in E8, one Manager (Finance) in E3, and two Executive (HR) / Asst. Executive (HR) posts in E1 or E0.

What is the last date to apply?

27 August 2026 for all three advertisements.

Is there a Chief Engineer post?

No. The senior post advertised is General Manager (Operations & Maintenance), which on the re-employment route is designated Chief Operations & Maintenance Manager.

What are the pay scales?

E8: Rs 1,20,000–2,80,000 (IDA). E3: Rs 60,000–1,80,000. E1: Rs 40,000–1,40,000. E0: Rs 30,000–1,20,000. Re-employment carries a consolidated Rs 1,70,000 or Rs 1,46,000 per month.

What is the age limit?

All reckoned as on 01/08/2026 — 55 years for GM (regular and deputation), 50 for AGM on deputation, 56 to 62 for re-employment, 40 for Manager (Finance), 32 for Executive (HR) and 30 for Asst. Executive (HR).

Does articleship count as experience for the Finance post?

No. Articleship and industrial training are not counted as post-qualification experience.

Is there a minimum current CTC requirement?

Yes, for private sector applicants — Rs 12.00 lakh per annum for Manager (Finance), Rs 7.00 lakh for Executive (HR) and Rs 5.50 lakh for Asst. Executive (HR), with Form 16 or a payslip as proof.

Can I apply by email?

No. Applications forwarded by fax or email are not entertained. The online form on the KMRL website is the only route, with all supporting documents uploaded.

Will I be told if I am shortlisted?

Only shortlisted candidates are notified, and only through the email ID registered with KMRL. No other mode of communication is attempted.

Details above are taken from Advt. Nos. KMRL/HR/2026-27/06, /07 and /08, all dated 04 August 2026, issued by Kochi Metro Rail Limited. Read the relevant notification in full on kochimetro.org before applying.