GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2125
ANSWERED ON 12TH FEBRUARY, 2026
OUTER RING ROAD PROJECT IN KERALA
2125. ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the present status of granting final approval for the Detailed
Project Report (DPR) of...
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2125 ANSWERED ON 12TH FEBRUARY, 2026 OUTER RING ROAD PROJECT IN KERALA
2125. ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the present status of granting final approval for the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Vizhinjam-Navaikkulam Outer Ring Road project in Kerala;
(b) whether Environment Clearance issues of this project have been resolved, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government is aware that uncertainty in this project is causing delay in the disbursement of compensation and the land owners are facing difficulties; and
(d) whether the Government will take necessary measures to resolve the issues and early execution of this project, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (d) The work of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Vizhinjam- Navaikkulam Outer Ring Road (ORR) project in Kerala has been awarded. The Environmental Clearance issues have not been resolved.The compensation for land acquisition shall be determined by the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA) in accordance with the National Highway Act 1956 and provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013, as made applicable by Government. However, disbursement of compensation can be undertaken only after the project is sanctioned.
In view of recent incidents of Reinforced Soil (RS) wall/slope failures in NH-66 works, the provisions of the ORR project required re-examination, as the project passes through hilly terrain involving high cut sections and extensive earthwork. Accordingly, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has modified project design with provisions of viaducts & tunnels to avoid high cut/fill sections which is proposed to be taken up for appraisal & approval.
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