The progress of Thiruvananthapuram’s Outer Ring Road (ORR) project, aimed at decongesting the city and improving access to the Vizhinjam International Seaport, has hit another roadblock as compensation to landowners is unlikely to be disbursed by the promised July 31 deadline, according to a report by The New Indian Express.
This comes despite earlier assurances by PWD Minister PA Mohammad Riyas, who had announced following a meeting with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) would receive final approval by the end of July.
Senior officials revealed that a team from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is expected to visit Kerala in the coming week to review unresolved issues. The NHAI has reportedly proposed revisions to the alignment of the ORR, especially where it passes through hilly terrain.
Meanwhile, opposition from landowners continues to mount. K Raveendran Nair, a landowner affected by the project, alleged that the DPR remains incomplete, which has delayed the compensation process. He also claimed procedural violations in land acquisition.
“For PPP projects, it is mandatory to obtain consent from 70 per cent of the landowners. This has not been followed in the ORR project. The 3A notification issued is illegal,” he said, adding that he holds RTI documents proving a lack of progress over the past two years.
The ORR project, valued at Rs 47.67 billion, has witnessed repeated delays. In December 2024, the Centre directed the Kerala government to revise the DPR, incorporating SGST exemptions and amendments to mining laws. The revised report was submitted in January 2025, but final approval is still pending.
News source: Swarajya
