The four-laning of the 1.5-kilometer Kodinada-Vazhimukku stretch at Balaramapuram in Thiruvananthapuram has encountered a fresh obstacle, as compensation payments to affected landowners have come to a standstill due to delays from the revenue wing of the district administration.
Compensation Disbursal Stalled
Officials from the Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB), the implementing agency, stated that around 50 landowners are yet to receive compensation, even though payments were made in phases until March. Nearly 150 beneficiaries received their dues over the past few months, but the process ground to a halt in April. This disruption has been attributed to administrative delays and the diversion of revenue officials for election-related duties.
Sources indicate that the next phase of disbursal, covering about 15 landowners, is now scheduled for Thursday. However, the delay has already impacted the project timeline, as KRFB has been unable to float construction tenders as originally planned.
Project Background
The Kodinada-Vazhimukku stretch is a vital component of the larger Karamana-Kaliyikkavila road development project, which aims to ease congestion along the busy NH 66 corridor and improve connectivity to the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. The project entails widening the road into a 30-meter-wide four-lane corridor equipped with modern safety features.
Despite the state government allocating over Rs 100 crore for compensation and initiating phased payouts earlier this year, procedural bottlenecks—particularly document verification and administrative approvals—have repeatedly delayed full disbursal. Landowners, many of whom have already surrendered their land or vacated properties, continue to face financial strain due to the uncertainty.
Impact on Timeline
KRFB officials added that the tender process can only begin after compensation is completed and the land is formally handed over. With the revised schedule, tenders are now expected to be floated only by the end of May. The looming southwest monsoon in June is likely to further delay construction activity, as road works across Kerala typically slow down during heavy rains. This raises concerns that the already delayed project could be pushed back by several more months.
The widening of this road link is considered crucial for decongesting Balaramapuram Junction, a major bottleneck on the southern outskirts of the capital. However, unless compensation issues are resolved swiftly, residents fear that the long-pending project will continue to miss deadlines.
