Landowners threaten assembly election boycott over Outer Ring Road compensation delay

Thiruvananthapuram: Over 6,400 families whose land parcels were acquired for Vizhinjam-Navaikulam Outer Ring Road (NH 866) project in the state capital announced they would boycott the upcoming assembly elections if full compensation was not disbursed by March 15.The Outer Ring Road, envisioned as a major infrastructure link to decongest traffic in the city and improve connectivity to Vizhinjam International Seaport, was mired in delays for years. Although families surrendered land documents three years ago, expecting prompt payments, compensation remains unsettled as bureaucratic and environmental approvals continue to stall. S Chandramohan Nair, convener of the action council representing the landowners, said they were at their wits' end. "We upheld our end of the bargain by conceding our land in good faith. But both state and central budgets ignored the compensation commitments" Nair said. Delays stem largely from a pending environmental clearance for the project's northern section from Thekkada to Navaikulam. State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) rejected the initial clearance, affirming that national highway approvals must come from central authorities, a decision that set back the process again. A senior National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) official acknowledged the challenges but struck a more optimistic note: "We understand the urgency felt by the affected families. The detailed project report was submitted to Union govt for final clearance, and we expect environmental and final approvals soon. Once these are in place, compensation can be processed without further legal impediments." Locals argued that, despite funds being earmarked and even transferred to NHAI in previous phases, the failure to align environmental and procedural approvals stalled action, leaving landowners in limbo and unable to rebuild livelihoods or use their land for essential needs such as taking loans. The action council also hinted at intensifying protests, legal challenges and hunger strikes if the situation remains unresolved. Landowners stressed that they are not opposed to development but insisted that progress should not come at the cost of ignored promises and prolonged hardship. While the southern section from Vizhinjam to Thekkada secured environmental clearance earlier in 2023, the delay in approving the northern section created uncertainty over land acquisition and construction schedules. SEIAA recently denied clearance for the northern section, citing that the project now comes under NHAI.