Outer Ring Road inches towards final approval

Thiruvananthapuram: The outer ring road (ORR) project has cleared a key hurdle with the completion of a statutory public hearing by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board, paving the way for environmental clearance from the Centre by the end of this month.

The hearing, part of the mandatory environmental clearance process, drew overwhelming support. More than 90% of participants, landowners and residents from panchayats along the proposed alignment, backed the project and urged authorities to expedite compensation and land acquisition. The district administration is expected to approve the hearing report next week and forward it to the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change.

The proposal will first be evaluated by the expert appraisal committee, which is expected to recommend clearance before the ministry gives final approval. A senior govt official said the hearing had removed one of the last major obstacles. “The public hearing has demonstrated strong public support for the outer ring road. The project is critical for the future growth of Thiruvananthapuram and for ensuring seamless connectivity to Vizhinjam port.

With the hearing completed successfully, we expect the environmental clearance process to move forward quickly,” the official said.

The progress comes as the state govt intensifies efforts to secure final approvals. On June 12, Kerala formally conveyed its concurrence to the Union ministry of road transport and highways, agreeing to bear its share of the cost. According to the PWD letter, the state has consented to contribute approximately Rs 3,251 crore based on revised estimates prepared by NHAI, nearly double the original estimate of Rs 1,629 crore, with the escalation attributed to years of delay.

The state also flagged the strategic importance of the ORR in supporting Vizhinjam International Seaport and integrating it with national highway networks, warning that further delays could hamper cargo movement and push costs higher. The proposed corridor, stretching from Vizhinjam to Navaikulam, is envisaged as a high-speed, access-controlled road that will decongest the city and open up new growth centres in the capital region.

The project has been awaiting final clearances for nearly eight years since receiving in-principle approval. Action council convener S Chandramohan Nair, who has been pushing for the project’s early execution, welcomed the hearing’s outcome. “Landowners and residents have expressed frustration over years of uncertainty and strongly demanded speedy compensation and implementation. The overwhelming support sends a strong message that the region is ready for this project,” he said.