Delays Persist in Outer Ring Road Project Clearance
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Delays Persist in Outer Ring Road Project Clearance

Confusion and delays continue to hinder progress on the long-stalled Outer Ring Road (ORR) project, as compensation to affected landowners is now unlikely to be disbursed by the previously promised deadline of 31 July. Public Works Department Minister P. A. Mohammad Riyas had earlier announced that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) would receive final approval from the Centre by the end of July, following discussions with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Official sources confirmed that a team from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will visit the state next week. “The NHAI has sought revisions in the ORR alignment, particularly in sections passing through hilly terrain,” said a senior official.
However, several landowners have raised serious concerns. K. Raveendran Nair, one of the affected individuals, alleged that the DPR—required to initiate compensation disbursal—remains incomplete. He further claimed the state violated norms by acquiring land without proper approvals, stating, “For PPP projects, consent from at least 70 per cent of landowners is mandatory. That has not happened here. The 3A notification issued is illegal.”
Citing a Right to Information (RTI) document, Nair argued that the ORR project has seen no significant progress in two years, and the government lacks legal grounds to acquire land at this stage.
In December 2024, the Centre asked the state to revise the DPR to include SGST exemptions and amendments to mining regulations. The revised DPR, valued at Rs 147.67 billion, was submitted in January 2025. The ORR aims to ease urban congestion and enhance access to the Vizhinjam International Seaport.
Chandramohanan Nair, Chairman of the Outer Ring Road Vizhinjam-Navayikulam Janakeeya Samiti, said, “We’ve met all relevant authorities, who assured us compensation will begin next month. The PWD Secretary confirmed that final clearance would follow the NHAI inspection.”
 

Confusion and delays continue to hinder progress on the long-stalled Outer Ring Road (ORR) project, as compensation to affected landowners is now unlikely to be disbursed by the previously promised deadline of 31 July. Public Works Department Minister P. A. Mohammad Riyas had earlier announced that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) would receive final approval from the Centre by the end of July, following discussions with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.Official sources confirmed that a team from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will visit the state next week. “The NHAI has sought revisions in the ORR alignment, particularly in sections passing through hilly terrain,” said a senior official.However, several landowners have raised serious concerns. K. Raveendran Nair, one of the affected individuals, alleged that the DPR—required to initiate compensation disbursal—remains incomplete. He further claimed the state violated norms by acquiring land without proper approvals, stating, “For PPP projects, consent from at least 70 per cent of landowners is mandatory. That has not happened here. The 3A notification issued is illegal.”Citing a Right to Information (RTI) document, Nair argued that the ORR project has seen no significant progress in two years, and the government lacks legal grounds to acquire land at this stage.In December 2024, the Centre asked the state to revise the DPR to include SGST exemptions and amendments to mining regulations. The revised DPR, valued at Rs 147.67 billion, was submitted in January 2025. The ORR aims to ease urban congestion and enhance access to the Vizhinjam International Seaport.Chandramohanan Nair, Chairman of the Outer Ring Road Vizhinjam-Navayikulam Janakeeya Samiti, said, “We’ve met all relevant authorities, who assured us compensation will begin next month. The PWD Secretary confirmed that final clearance would follow the NHAI inspection.” 

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

KONE Opens India's First Digital Experience Centre in Pune

KONE, a global elevator and escalator manufacturer, has inaugurated its first Digital Experience Centre (DEC) in India, located in Pune. The facility aims to showcase how artificial intelligence (AI), connectivity and data-driven technologies can enhance customer experiences and improve building operations.The centre was inaugurated by Jussi Herlin, Executive Vice Chair, KONE Corporation; Philippe Delorme, President and CEO, KONE; and Nandan Nilekani, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Infosys.Designed as an interactive customer environment, the facility demonstrates digital solutions cover..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

CII GreenCo Launches Circularity Guidelines for Indian Industry

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) GreenCo Council has launched the CII GreenCo Circularity Guidelines – Pilot Version at the 17th CII GreenCo Waste & Resource Management Summit 2026 in Chennai. The initiative aims to strengthen resource efficiency, waste reduction and circular economy practices across Indian manufacturing and process industries.The guidelines introduce a structured framework with circularity indices covering raw materials, consumables, packaging and other resource inputs. These indicators will help industries assess existing practices, identify opportunities to ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Global Electronics Association Launches IPC-1783-CO2E Standard

The Global Electronics Association has introduced IPC-1783-CO2E, a new international standard aimed at improving consistency, transparency and comparability in product carbon footprint reporting across the electronics manufacturing industry.The standard, titled International Standard for Data Collection and Reporting of CO2 Equivalent (CO2e) Emissions for the Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain, provides industry-specific guidance for collecting, estimating and reporting carbon emissions data.With increasing regulatory requirements and customer expectations, electronics manufacturers face c..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code