**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' response to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 173, addressed on July 31, 2025, regarding the Vizhinjam-Navaikkulam Outer Ring Road project in Kerala. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the greenfield highway development between Vizhinjam and Navaikkulam has been prepared. However, final approval is pending as the project's alignment, initially based on a feasibility report by the State Government, is under review. This review, conducted in consultation with the State Government, aims to minimize hill cutting and prevent ecological damage. Compensation for land acquisition is determined according to the National Highway Act, 1956, and the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013, and will be disbursed after project approval. The government acknowledges potential difficulties faced by landowners due to compensation delays and is working with the State Government to address alignment and design issues related to extensive hill cutting and potential ecological damage to facilitate the project's progress.
Key Entities Referenced
VizhinjamNavaikkulam Outer Ring Road: A road project in Kerala, India, connecting Vizhinjam and Navaikkulam.
Kerala: The state in India where the VizhinjamNavaikkulam Outer Ring Road project is located.
Nitin Jairam Gadkari: The Minister of Road Transport and Highways answering the parliamentary question.
Adv. Adoor Prakash: The Member of Parliament who raised the starred question regarding the VizhinjamNavaikkulam Outer Ring Road project.
National Highway Act, 1956: An Indian law pertaining to national highways, relevant for compensation determination.
Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement RFCTLARR Act 2013: An Indian law regarding land acquisition and compensation, relevant for the VizhinjamNavaikkulam Outer Ring Road project.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The government ministry responsible for road transport and highways in India.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Indian Parliament, where the question was raised.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 173
ANSWERED ON 31ST JULY, 2025
VIZHINJAM-NAVAIKKULAM OUTER RING ROAD
173. ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Union Government has granted final approval for the
Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Vizhinjam–Navaikkulam Outer Ring Road
project in Kerala and if so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons for delay
and its present status;
(b) whether the Government is aware of the difficulties being faced by the
land owners due to delay in getting compensation for their properties
acquired more than two years back and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government would take necessary measures to resolve
the issues and ensure early execution of this project and if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (c) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 173 ANSWERED ON 31ST July 2025 ASKED BY ADV.
ADOOR RAKASH REGARDING ‘VIZHINJAM-NAVAIKKULAM OUTER RING
ROAD’.
(a) to (c) For development of greenfield Highway between Vizhinjam and
Navaikkulam outer Ring Road Project, the Detailed Project Report has been
prepared. However, the alignment of the project which was initially
finalised based on feasibility report prepared by the State Government is
being reviewed, in consultation with the State Government to minimise hill
cutting and to avoid ecological damage. The compensation is arrived at in
accordance with National Highway Act, 1956 and applicable provisions of
Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition,
Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act 2013, to be paid after
approval of the project by the Competent Authority. While the Government
is conscious of the need to take the project forward, the problems in the
existing alignment and design arising from extensive hill cutting and
consequent possible ecological damage are being addressed in
consultation with the State Government.
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