Now that Kerala Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organization (KITCO) has submitted the detailed project report (DPR) for the land acquisition to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the development of the proposed Outer Ring Road (ORR) project in the capital is a step ahead.

The DPR has been completed by the NHAI and delivered to the Land Acquisition Department of the district administration. The Resettlement and Rehabilitation Package and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report are among the other components for which the DPR has not yet been submitted to the NHAI. The project is expected to be tendered by NHAI this fiscal year.

The DPR land acquisition has been completed by NHAI. However, the DPR for other features must be finalized before the tender process can begin, said P Pradeep, project director for NHAI. “We expect KITCO to finalize the DPR for the entire project itself this fiscal year. This will enable us to issue a tender before the end of this financial year. NHAI is acting quickly to ensure the rapid completion of the project's preparatory procedures,” said Pradeep.

Its length runs through 31 settlements, according to the DPR. There were 47 villages listed in the first state government notification. However, sixteen villages have been bypassed by the DPR. According to sources, the next stage is to inspect the piece under the supervision of the collectate's revenue department with the help of KITCO. It is assumed three months before the investigation is completed. The tax authorities then publish the 3A notification, the first announcement of the land purchase procedure.

The Tax and Customs Administration had previously assembled a special team of officials to ensure that the project would be completed quickly. In order to ensure a seamless takeover of about 1,500 hectares for the 80 km road project under the center's Bharatmala Pariyojana plan, the tax authorities set up a team of 12 officers in April this year, commanded by a special deputy collector.

Pradeep stated that as the Center covered half of the cost of the Rs 48.68 billion project, the NHAI would also be involved in the land purchase. The NHAI would oversee the implementation of the project. In 2019, the central government gave its approval in principle for the ORR project. The six-lane road will be 70 meters wide and, according to the plan, will have service lanes of 10 meters wide.

Furthermore, logistics, IT and entertainment centers will be located on both sides of the road from Parippally in Kollam to the NH-66 bypass at Vizhinjam. The project, which will be executed in two phases, will also create a route connecting MC Road, state highways and NH-66.

According to sources, the corridor is expected to boost economic growth on the outskirts of the city. Residents of the Mangalapuram-Thekkada section, which connects to the ring road, have expressed concern about the loss of their homes and property in the meantime.