Centre likely to grant final approval for outer ring road project in July
Thiruvananthapuram: The long-awaited outer ring road (ORR) project gained momentum following Union minister for road transport and highways
Nitin Gadkari
's assurance to grant final approval to the detailed project report (DPR) by issuing an official order in July.
The development marks a significant step forward for the Rs 4,767-crore infrastructure initiative aimed at decongesting city traffic and enhancing connectivity to the Vizhinjam International Seaport.
According to PWD minister PA Mohamed Riyas, the project received clearance from the Centre and the final order containing the approval will be issued by July end.
In Dec 2024, the Centre directed the state govt to submit a revised DPR, incorporating exemptions from the state goods and services tax (SGST) and amendments to mining laws to ensure the availability of construction materials.
The state govt submitted the revised DPR in Jan 2025. Upon approval, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will commence disbursing compensation to affected landowners and initiate the tendering process for construction.
The compensation disbursal is likely to begin in Aug, sources said.
"The wait is over and the project has gained momentum. Though the project received an in-principle nod, there will be some procedures and it will take at least a month," a PWD official said.
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However, landowners have voiced concerns about the delay in compensation. On May 7, the affected landowners protested outside the NHAI regional office in Chackai against the delay. The protest was led by Outer Ring Road Vizhinjam-Navaikulam Janakeeya Samiti. "We support development but not at the cost of our rightful compensation," action council convenor S Chandramohan Nair said.
The ORR project, spanning approximately 80km, is a six-lane ring road encircling the district.
It is part of the Capital Region Development Programme-II (CRDP-II) and falls under the Centre's Bharatmala Pariyojana scheme. The road will be officially designated as NH 866 and aims to facilitate smoother traffic flow and bolster economic development in the region.
Despite the recent progress, challenges remain. A Supreme Court ruling on May 16, 2025, invalidated a 2017 notification allowing C environmental clearances, affecting the northern stretch of the project from Thekkada to Navaikulam. This has stalled compensation and preliminary work in that segment. Efforts are underway to reconstitute the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority committee to address the impasse.
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