Green signal finally? Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road project to be tabled before Union Cabinet

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Central Government is likely to give the green signal to the proposed Vizhinjam-Navaikulam Outer Ring Road (Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road – NH 866) soon. The project had earlier received environmental clearance. The file is currently with the Union Ministry of Surface Transport. Only if the Union Cabinet approves it, the procedures, including land acquisition and payment of compensation, will be expedited.

The Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road project is estimated to cost around Rs 12549.5 crore. The Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) had already recommended the project. The project, which was planned to be constructed in two reaches, Vizhinjam-Thekkada and Thekkada-Navaikulam, has now been decided to be constructed as a single project of 62.7 km in length.

The estimated cost of the project excluding GST is around Rs 6857 crore. Various pre-construction activities will cost around Rs 1267 crore. The land acquisition alone requires Rs 4450 crore. The state will bear half of this, approximately Rs 2225 crore. The state will also have to bear the construction cost of the service road, approximately Rs 434 crore.

Construction as follows

• 17 tunnels – total 4.625 km
• 50 viaducts – total 10.53 km
• 6 flyovers
• 2 large bridges
• 17 small bridges
• 144 box culverts
• 128 cross-road culverts
• 1 railway overpass
• 103 km service road
• Ramps at 7 points to enter and exit the main road