Vizhinjam Outer Ring Road Faces Fresh Clearance Setback
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Vizhinjam Outer Ring Road Faces Fresh Clearance Setback

The Vizhinjam–Navayikulam Outer Ring Road project in Thiruvananthapuram has encountered another delay after the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority rejected the environmental clearance granted to the project on technical grounds. The authority said that environmental clearance for highways executed by the National Highways Authority of India must be issued by the Union government’s environmental authority, not by a state-level panel.

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from affected landowners, as the clearance had been under consideration since February. Landowners alleged that delays and lack of coordination between the state and central governments have left around 6,500 families without compensation. The Outer Ring Road was designated as National Highway 866 in 2023.

Ajith G Nair, president of the Vizhinjam Outer Ring Road Landowners Movement, said both NHAI and the state government failed to take proactive steps and overlooked basic legal provisions related to environmental clearance. He alleged that there is no designated nodal officer for the project and that agencies including NHAI, the district administration and the Public Works Department lack clarity on its execution.

Chandramohan Nair, convenor of the landowners’ action council, accused authorities of making repeated announcements without securing funds or approvals. He questioned why land acquisition was initiated without financial readiness, highlighting the hardship faced by thousands of affected families.

NHAI officials said the project could face further delays, as the format and process for securing environmental clearance from the Centre differ from those followed at the state level, necessitating fresh applications and approvals.

The Vizhinjam–Navayikulam Outer Ring Road project in Thiruvananthapuram has encountered another delay after the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority rejected the environmental clearance granted to the project on technical grounds. The authority said that environmental clearance for highways executed by the National Highways Authority of India must be issued by the Union government’s environmental authority, not by a state-level panel. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from affected landowners, as the clearance had been under consideration since February. Landowners alleged that delays and lack of coordination between the state and central governments have left around 6,500 families without compensation. The Outer Ring Road was designated as National Highway 866 in 2023. Ajith G Nair, president of the Vizhinjam Outer Ring Road Landowners Movement, said both NHAI and the state government failed to take proactive steps and overlooked basic legal provisions related to environmental clearance. He alleged that there is no designated nodal officer for the project and that agencies including NHAI, the district administration and the Public Works Department lack clarity on its execution. Chandramohan Nair, convenor of the landowners’ action council, accused authorities of making repeated announcements without securing funds or approvals. He questioned why land acquisition was initiated without financial readiness, highlighting the hardship faced by thousands of affected families. NHAI officials said the project could face further delays, as the format and process for securing environmental clearance from the Centre differ from those followed at the state level, necessitating fresh applications and approvals.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Resources

Schindler named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026

Schindler has been named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026, a global ranking recognising companies for their workplace environments.Compiled by Forbes in partnership with Statista, the ranking is based on independent employee feedback, including whether employees would recommend their organisation to friends and family.The company said the recognition reflected its focus on creating a workplace where employees can develop their expertise and build careers. ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

India needs an export-execution mindset: Vishesh Jain

Interview with Vishesh Jain, Founder & CEO, EximpleWhat gaps in India’s global trade ecosystem led you to build Eximple, and what problem did you see businesses struggling with most?Eximple came out of a problem that all three founders had seen from different choke points in the trade ecosystem. India has millions of MSMEs and manufacturers, and many of them can make products that are genuinely competitive on quality. Yet only a small fraction is able to build meaningful international businesses. In our experience, the gap is usually not manufacturing capability; it is the ability to exe..

Next Story
Building Material

Nuvoco reports 13.5% revenue growth in Q2 FY27

Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd. reported consolidated revenue of Rs 27.9 billion for Q2 FY27, up 13.5% year on year. Cement sales volume rose 9% to 4.7 million tonnes (MMT), while EBITDA increased 11% to Rs 4.11 billion.The company said it began its cement operations in 2014 with a 2.3 MMT per annum (MMTPA) operation at Nimbol. It now aims to reach 35 MMTPA of cement capacity by FY28, nearly 15 times its initial capacity. Its portfolio spans cement, ready-mix concrete and modern building materials.On sustainability and cost efficiency, Nuvoco partnered with CleanMax for a 46.4 MW wind-solar hybrid re..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code