The Union Cabinet has approved the Rs. 83.98 bn Greenfield Outer Ring Road connecting Vizhinjam and Navaikulam in Kerala, while the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has granted environmental clearance for the 62.7-km project. The approval is expected to enable compensation disbursal and tendering to proceed simultaneously, ending prolonged uncertainty over the project.

The road, to be implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), will pass through 24 villages across six taluks: Varkala, Chirayinkeezhu, Nedumangad, Kattakada, Neyyattinkara and Thiruvananthapuram. The project is planned for completion in 30 months, subject to the environmental safeguards attached to the clearance.

About 314.05 hectares will be acquired, comprising 93.6 per cent private land and 6.39 per cent government land. The estimated land acquisition cost is Rs. 41.29 bn. The proposed right of way is 45 metres, widening to between 60 and 80 metres near tunnels, slip roads and their approaches.

The project is likely to require the felling of 21,000 trees and the displacement of 84 vulnerable species within the right of way. NHAI has proposed planting 210,000 trees, including Miyawaki plantations at the cloverleaf interchange, and may undertake plantations in forest areas if approved by the Forest Department because of space constraints along the road.

A biodiversity assessment by the Kerala Forest Research Institute identified roadkill hotspots and seven Schedule-I species, including the crested goshawk, black-headed ibis, spectacled cobra, Russell’s viper and Indian rock python. Its Rs. 12.7 mn conservation plan includes underpasses, viaducts, fencing, speed regulation, warning signs, animal detection systems and vegetation management. The project also includes about 17 tunnels, 50 viaducts with a cumulative length of 11.974 km, 17 minor bridges and two major bridges. The ministry has directed NHAI to re-examine the tunnel design and implement the recommended mitigation measures.