The Kerala state government has approved Rs 3,200 crore as its share for land acquisition for the proposed Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road (ORR), which will connect Vizhinjam and Navaikulam. A government order sanctioning the amount is expected shortly, paving the way for compensation payments to thousands of affected landowners.
Chief Minister's Assurance
Chief Minister V D Satheesan gave the assurance that the funds would be disbursed soon during a meeting with representatives of affected landowners. Sources indicated that compensation payments are likely to begin within two months. The decision is regarded as one of the most significant infrastructure approvals taken by the UDF government since assuming office.
Political Support
MLAs M Vincent (Kovalam), M R Baiju (Kattakada), and Sudheersha Palode (Vamanapuram) accompanied the representatives during discussions with the chief minister. A total of 6,563 landowners are on record as being affected by the acquisition process for the NH-866 corridor.
Kovalam MLA M Vincent welcomed the move. He stated, "The chief minister has approved the project and signed the file. The clearance of Rs 3,200 crore for land acquisition is a decisive step that will help end years of uncertainty faced by affected landowners and move the project towards implementation."
Reactions from Affected Landowners
S Chandramohan Nair, convenor of the action council representing affected landowners, also welcomed the decision. He said, "This is a long-awaited and positive move. Thousands of families have been waiting for compensation for years. We thank the government for clearing the funds and hope the compensation process will begin without further delay."
NHAI Tender and Project Details
The announcement comes as the National Highways Authority of India has formally invited bids for the project. A tender notification issued on June 5 calls for requests for proposal for construction of the 62.7 km four-lane ORR from Navaikulam to Vizhinjam on NH-866 under the build-operate-transfer model. The estimated project cost is Rs 8,004.72 crore. Bids are open until August 5 and will be opened on August 7.
NHAI is also working to complete the environmental clearance process. The Kerala State Pollution Control Board has scheduled a public hearing on June 11, a mandatory step before clearance can be granted. The hearing will cover the entire 62.7 km greenfield corridor and is expected to address concerns from affected residents.
Project Significance
The ORR, part of the Centre's Bharatmala programme, is designed to improve connectivity between Vizhinjam International Seaport and the northern parts of the capital region while easing traffic congestion in Thiruvananthapuram. Recent environmental studies have proposed a revised alignment featuring tunnels and viaducts to minimise ecological damage and reduce displacement.
