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Time of India
11 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Akkulam Lake rejuvenation project scaled down as cost soars to Rs 160 crore
T'puram: The much-awaited Akkulam Lake rejuvenation project in the capital has hit yet another roadblock with the state govt deciding to scale down its scope due to massive cost escalation, from the initial ₹96 crore to around ₹160 crore. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The decision was taken recently at a high-level meeting chaired by chief minister's principal secretary K M Abraham. Sources said the project would now be retendered with the original cost estimate of ₹96 crore, necessitating significant revisions to the project components. Tendered two years ago, the project aims to transform the deteriorating Akkulam Lake and its surroundings into a premier eco-tourism destination. Public sector enterprise WAPCOS Ltd was appointed as the implementing agency. However, the implementation faced delays due to disagreements within the tourism department, particularly over the selection of a subcontractor by the main contractor, Sri Avantika Contractors, which allegedly had no prior experience in water quality management. A senior official close to the project told TOI: "The operation and maintenance components alone accounted for ₹38 crore, which was not anticipated in the initial proposal. Now, based on the principal secretary's instructions, we are working on scaling down the scope of the project to fit within the ₹96-crore ceiling." Meanwhile, a Sri Avantika Contractors representative blamed the govt's indecision for the project's cost overrun. "We submitted the project at ₹96 crore, but the delay caused by the tourism department's reluctance to allow subcontracting severely disrupted the timeline. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This naturally led to increased costs," he said. The latest decision has raised concerns that the project might face even more delays as new bidders may be unwilling to execute a scaled-down version of the project at the original cost. Industry experts say that inflation and increased material and labour costs over the last two years make it challenging for any firm to undertake the project without revisions to budget allocation. The Akkulam Lake rejuvenation, once envisioned as a flagship tourism and environmental restoration project for Thiruvananthapuram, now faces an uncertain future unless the state finds a balanced approach between fiscal limitations and the ecological urgency of restoring the lake. Environmentalists have long raised concerns about the pollution levels in Akkulam Lake, which is fed by the Killi River and suffers from untreated sewage inflows. The state govt cancelled the contract awarded to Hyderabad-based Sri Avantika Contractors Ltd in May this year. An official govt order issued on May 14, 2025, cited the lack of technical expertise in lake rejuvenation on the part of Avantika and its joint venture partner firms as the reason for the cancellation. The order also revoked the Letter of Award (LOA) issued in 2022 to Avantika Contractors, noting serious deficiencies in fulfilling the technical criteria, operations and maintenance (O&M) capabilities, and documentation required for such a large-scale ecological project. The rejuvenation project, expected to take two years, includes features like an entrance plaza, food court, rain shelter, wetland park, open-air theatre, seating areas, open gym, bio-fencing, toilets and parking facilities. Additionally, approximately 26 acres of land must be acquired to restore the lake area.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Sabarimala airport: State govt submits DPR to Centre
T'puram: State govt submitted the detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed Sabarimala international airport at Cheruvally, near Pathanamthitta, to Union ministry of civil aviation, in line with Centre's July 12 deadline. A final review meeting, convened specifically to seek chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's in-principle approval for forwarding the report to Centre, cleared the DPR on July 2. The meeting was attended by chief principal secretary to chief minister K M Abraham, special officer for Sabarimala airport project V Thulasidas and transport (aviation) secretary Biju K. According to the DPR presented before the chief minister, the proposed greenfield airport will feature a 3,500-m runway along with a 3,500-m taxi track. The airport's apron is designed to accommodate a mix of aircraft types — either two Code E and three Code C aircraft or up to seven Code C aircraft simultaneously. The terminal design includes two multiple apron ramp system aerobridges capable of handling either four Code C or two Code E aircraft simultaneously. Boeing 777-300ER (Code E), a long-range wide-body aircraft, was selected as the reference design aircraft, indicating the airport's capacity to handle large international flights. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Successful Way of Intraday Trading is "Market Profile" TradeWise Learn More Undo The terminal infrastructure is designed to handle significant traffic volumes. The proposed passenger terminal building will have a built-up area of 54,000sq m and an annual handling capacity of 7 million passengers. The DPR also includes plans for a dedicated 1,200sq m cargo terminal for freight handling. A total of 2,408 acres will be needed for the airport project. Of this, 950 acres will be owned by the proposed airport company and will cover the operational area. An additional 400 acres will be commercially leased to the company for development. Govt will retain the remaining land for allied infrastructure, support services and other public purposes linked to the airport's functioning. The estimated construction cost, excluding land acquisition expenses, is Rs 5,377 crore. The cost of acquiring land — including expenses related to resettlement and rehabilitation of affected families — is estimated at Rs 2,408 crore. Thus total project cost, considering only the land earmarked for operational use, is projected at Rs 7,047 crore. The financial model is based on a debt-equity ratio of 1.22:1. The internal rate of return (IRR) for the overall project is estimated at 15.31%, while the equity IRR — a key indicator for potential investors — is projected at 15.71%. Union ministry of civil aviation will now examine the proposal for in-principle approval. If cleared, Sabarimala airport would become Kerala's fifth international airport, joining the ranks of Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode and Kannur. State govt believes the airport will significantly reduce travel time and congestion during Sabarimala pilgrimage season and also bring long-term economic benefits to the Pathanamthitta-Kottayam-Idukki belt. Meanwhile, as part of pre-implementation steps, revenue department initiated a field survey for acquiring land for the airport. Govt set a target of completing the field survey within four months.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Complete land acquisition in 2 months: State to NHAI
Thiruvananthapuram: State govt issued a two-month ultimatum to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to complete land acquisition proceedings and compensation disbursal for the long-pending outer ring road (ORR) project from Vizhinjam to Navaikulam. At a high-level meeting chaired by chief minister's chief principal secretary K M Abraham on Thursday, PWD secretary K Biju was tasked with coordinating directly with Centre and NHAI to resolve delays that held the project back for over two years. On Friday, state submitted a revised clearance application for the northern section, a month after Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) requested changes. Abraham made it clear that the ORR project remains the state's top priority. He directed NHAI regional officer A K Janbaz to expedite land acquisition proceedings and complete compensation disbursal within two months. While NHAI officials reportedly promised to release the compensation soon, they were unable to provide a fixed timeline. More than 6,000 families across 24 villages have been waiting for compensation for nearly two years, even as their land documents remain with village revenue offices through which the proposed road passes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 기미, 레이저말고 이렇게 해보세요 에스테틱최원장 Undo Despite Rs 700 crore being transferred to NHAI earlier this year to compensate affected landowners, no disbursal has taken place yet. The compensation process was stalled due to pending environmental clearance for the project's northern stretch from Thekkada to Navaikulam, legal complications and a lapse in the tenure of state environment impact assessment authority (SEIAA). Since the SEIAA committee is yet to be reconstituted, MoEFCC is now responsible for all pending environmental approvals. The delay led to considerable frustration among landowners, many of whom participated in a protest organised by outer ring road action council in May. During the agitation at NHAI office in Chackai, the regional officer gave written assurance that disbursal would begin within a month. However, little progress has been made. Meanwhile, rising land acquisition costs are becoming a major concern. Originally estimated at Rs 1,800 crore, the acquisition cost has now surged past Rs 3,800 crore, with further increase expected if the process is delayed beyond Aug, when the current land valuations expire. Under Land Acquisition Act, a 12% annual interest is applicable to delayed payments, putting additional financial pressure on state and Centre. Despite challenges, state govt remains optimistic. Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari reportedly assured the state that final approval for the detailed project report would be granted by July-end. Compensation disbursal and tendering process can begin after that. The ORR, when completed, will stretch approximately 80 km, connecting Vizhinjam International Seaport to National Highway 66, and easing traffic congestion around the state capital. The southern portion of the project, from Vizhinjam to Thekkada, received environmental clearance in 2023, but the northern stretch continues to face regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Crucial meeting on Outer Ring Road to discuss compensation disbursal
Thiruvananthapuram : State govt is poised to take a decisive step on Thursday regarding the much-awaited Outer Ring Road (ORR) project from Vizhinjam to Navaikulam at a high-level meeting convened by chief minister's chief principal secretary K M Abraham. It will be attended by representatives from National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), PWD and revenue department. They will discuss pending compensation for hundreds of landowners whose title deeds remain held at revenue offices. Sources said the meeting was to ensure the timely dispensation of compensation to affected landowners. The meeting will also focus on the cost-sharing between state and the Centre, which currently remains at 50-50. Landowners, represented by action council member S Chandramohan Nair, met with NHAI's regional officer A K Janbaz on Monday to voice their growing concerns. "It has been three years and govt should return our title deeds or immediately give us the compensation," Nair said. He warned of an indefinite hunger strike if matters were not resolved soon. "People gave up their land for this project in good faith and development cannot come at the cost of people's basic rights," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Festival del Cinema di Venezia: attenzione puntata sui registi emergenti Punto di Vista Media S.r.l. Scopri di più Undo In May this year, landowners staged a sit-in at NHAI's Chackai office, following which NHAI regional officer B L Meena assured them in writing that compensation would be paid within a month or the project would be cancelled. Yet, disbursements remain stalled, even though district administration transferred Rs 700 crore to NHAI in Jan. Complicating the situation, a Supreme Court ruling on May 16 struck down a 2017 notification permitting post-facto environmental clearances, stalling the northern segment between Thekkada and Navaikulam as the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) committee lapsed in March. While the southern stretch from Vizhinjam to Thekkada received clearance in 2023, the northern section's progress is legally frozen until new clearance procedures are in place. Meanwhile, a senior PWD official said that "After meeting with minister Riyas and Union Minister Gadkari, the Centre was likely to give final approval to the detailed project report by the end of July." The official added that compensation and tendering could begin in Aug.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
In letter to CM, Abraham calls HC verdict against him as ‘forum shopping'
Thiruvananthapuram: Chief principal secretary to the chief minister and former IAS officer K M Abraham described Kerala high court's April 11 verdict ordering a CBI probe against him as "an unfortunate instance of forum shopping. " He alleged that the court acted beyond its jurisdiction by ordering an investigation through a criminal miscellaneous petition. In a nine-page letter submitted to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on April 15, accessed by TOI, Abraham said the judge's decision to allow a new prayer for CBI investigation in a petition wherein the trial court earlier dismissed the plea for a vigilance probe represents a circumvention of judicial procedure. "The petitioner, whose plea for a vigilance investigation was earlier dismissed by the trial court, sought to circumvent this rejection by introducing an additional prayer for a CBI enquiry within the same proceedings," Abraham wrote. "This represents a direct attempt to bypass established judicial procedure… the hon'ble judge lacked the jurisdiction to consider such a prayer within a Crl.M.C. (criminal miscellaneous case), but nevertheless proceeded to order a CBI investigation," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Sharp Design, Smoother Drives. Toyota Glanza Learn More Undo You Can Also Check: Thiruvananthapuram AQI | Weather in Thiruvananthapuram | Bank Holidays in Thiruvananthapuram | Public Holidays in Thiruvananthapuram The use of the term 'forum shopping', typically associated with attempts to manipulate judicial outcomes by choosing favourable judges, could be construed as casting aspersions on the court's conduct and may risk inviting contempt proceedings under the Contempt of Court Act. Abraham also called for a counter-investigation by state police, alleging that the petitioner conspired with two individuals against whom he submitted adverse reports in his capacity as additional chief secretary. He said he had call data records (CDR) that confirm extensive conversations — over 10,000 seconds with one accused and around 4,000 seconds with the other — between his adversaries and the petitioner. Legal experts point out that these allegations are problematic as access to personal CDR of a citizen may constitute a violation of privacy and telecom laws requiring registration of a crime.
