The ambitious Thiruvananthapuram Metro Rail project has encountered a fresh and significant obstacle. The submission of its revised detailed project report (DPR) is now stalled, as the implementing agency, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL), has stated it cannot proceed without clear guidance on the national population criteria required for central approval.
Clarity on Policy Norms is the Key Hurdle
KMRL Managing Director Loknath Behera informed The Times of India that the revised DPR, currently being prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), will only be submitted to the state government after receiving definitive guidance on the population benchmarks mandated by the National Metro Rail Policy of 2017. This policy generally expects a minimum urban population of around 20 lakh (2 million) for a conventional metro project to qualify for central government sanction.
"Before we formally submit the DPR, we must be absolutely clear about the population requirement so that the proposal meets all central norms," Behera emphasized, highlighting that procedural compliance is crucial at this advanced stage. He acknowledged that a previous alignment considered from Neyyattinkara to Attingal had satisfied the minimum population criteria more effectively than the current plan, though he did not provide specific figures.
Recent Precedents and Demographic Challenges
Concerns over population norms have been intensified by recent central government decisions. In November 2025, the Union government returned the DPRs for the proposed metro projects in Coimbatore and Madurai, explicitly citing non-compliance with the population and ridership norms of the 2017 policy. For those cities, which fell short of the required threshold based on the 2011 Census, the Centre suggested exploring alternative mass transit systems like the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS).
The demographic data for Thiruvananthapuram presents a complex picture. The 2011 Census recorded the city's population at approximately 16.8 lakh, which is below the typical metro threshold. More recent estimates place the core urban population at just over 10.5 lakh. However, the broader metropolitan region is projected to have over 23 lakh residents. Urban planners argue that relying solely on the municipal corporation population, while excluding the wider metropolitan catchment area, could undermine the project's case by not accurately reflecting future commuter demand.
Project Details and State's Optimism
Despite the current impasse, preparatory work on the ground continues. The state government has already finalized the first-phase alignment, which will stretch roughly 31 kilometers from Pappanamcode to Enchakkal. The route will connect key hubs including:
- Medical College
- Kazhakkoottam
- Akkulam
- Technopark
- The airport
- Thampanoor bus stand and railway station
- The Secretariat
A total of 27 stations are planned along this corridor. Furthermore, the Chief Minister has approved the alignment, and preparatory works such as flyover construction at Sreekaryam, Ulloor, and Pattom are already underway, indicating the state's continued commitment to the project.
The immediate future of the Thiruvananthapuram Metro now hinges on obtaining clarity from the central government on how the population criteria will be applied—whether it will consider just the city limits or the entire metropolitan agglomeration. Until this procedural roadblock is cleared, the revised DPR, a critical document for securing funding and approval, will remain in a holding pattern.
