T’puram: Uncertainty looms over the submission of the detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed Thiruvananthapuram Metro Rail, with critical technical concerns regarding population criteria still unresolved between Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL), the implementing agency.KMRL officials indicated that the existing benchmarks of population criteria were outdated and needed revision to reflect current urban growth patterns in the city.KMRL MD Loknath Behera told TOI that the issue would be sorted out after discussing with the experts on how this criterion can be corrected so that DPR can be submitted to the govt soon for final nod.“The population criterion is old and needs to be corrected. Some agencies have undertaken similar revisions elsewhere. Once these corrections are made, DMRC will submit the report to KMRL and we will submit it to the govt. We will also discuss with the Union govt to resolve this technical issue,” Behera said.The issue is significant because population density and projected ridership are key parameters in determining the feasibility of metro rail projects. Any discrepancies or reliance on outdated data could affect funding approvals and technical clearances at later stages.Sources added that alignment options are also being revisited as part of the effort to resolve these concerns. A proposed corridor from Neyyattinkara to Attingal is being seen as a viable alternative that could address the population criteria issue more effectively. “If the alignment is extended, the population benchmarks may be better satisfied, improving the project’s overall feasibility,” a source said.Last Nov, Centre returned the DPRs for Coimbatore and Madurai metro projects, explicitly citing noncompliance with population and ridership norms under the 2017 policy. Those cities, based on the 2011 census, fell short of the minimum population required for metro sanction, prompting Centre to suggest considering alternative systems like the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS).According to the latest demographic data, Thiruvananthapuram city’s population remains below the typical metro threshold, with 2011 census figures showing around 16.8 lakh, and updated estimates placing the core urban population at just over 10.5 lakh. However, the broader metropolitan region is projected to have over 23 lakh residents, complicating the criteria assessment.However, the state govt and KMRL have not taken a decision on revising the current alignment from Kazhakkoottam to Pappanamcode via the Medical College, MG Road and Enchakkal to ensure connection with the airport and Technopark in three phases.The DPR, being prepared by DMRC, is a crucial document that will outline the project’s technical design, cost estimates, ridership projections and implementation framework. Its submission has already been delayed multiple times, raising concerns among stakeholders and the public about the timeline of the much-anticipated metro project.Officials indicated that the process may extend further, as inputs from urban transport planners, demographic experts and policy advisers are being sought to ensure that the revised proposal meets all regulatory and financial requirements.Adding a political dimension to the delay, sources pointed out that the final decision on the metro project is likely to rest with the new govt expected to assume office next month. The metro rail project has featured prominently in election manifestos of all major political parties.“Given the scale and financial implications of the project, the incoming govt will play a decisive role in approving the final DPR and pushing the project forward,” a senior govt official associated with the project said.The state govt approved the alignment of the Thiruvananthapuram metro in Nov 2025 and asked KMRL to prepare the DPR. KMRL stated it would complete the DPR and submit it to the state govt in one-and-a-half months. However, it did not happen.The approved alignment covers a 31km stretch with 27 stations, connecting major administrative centres, residential hubs and the expanding IT corridor. The project is expected to transform urban mobility in the capital, providing seamless, fast and future-ready transit between Technopark and the city core.PROPOSED METRO STATIONSPappanamcode | Kaimanam | Karamana | Killipalam | Thampanoor | Secretariat | Palayam | Plamoodu | Pattom | Murinjapalam | Medical College | Ulloor | Pongumoodu | Sreekaryam | Pangappara | Gurumandiram | Karyavattom | Technopark Phases I, II and III | Kulathoor | Akkulam Lake | Kochuveli | Venpalavattom | Chackai | Airport | Enchakkal
