A 80-km four-lane Outer Ring Road (ORR) from Vizhinjam to Parippally expandable to six-lane with Special Investment Region (SIR) to trigger development of the State capital has been recommended for approval to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
The ORR, to commence from the south of the capital and terminate at Parippally, would have a 10-metre-wide service road on either side and a Right of Way of 70 m.
Access-controlled
The proposed ORR mooted as part of Phase II of the Capital Region Development Programme (CRDP) and in view of the upcoming Vizhinjam international deepwater seaport, to be implemented under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), would be access controlled and tolled. The area within 2.5 km on either side of the ORR would be designated as SIR, which will be developed as per the Special Legislation to focus on growth and dedicated administrative mechanism, including provision for value capture.
State to share cost
The State has agreed to share 50% of the land acquisition expenses, excluding government land that would be handed over free of cost to the NHAI. As much as 500 hectares of land will have to be acquired for the ORR, and the cost of land acquisition and dismantling of structures has been worked out at ₹2,829 crore. The civil works of the project is estimated to cost ₹2,039 crore.
A high-level meeting chaired by Yudhvir Singh Malik, Secretary, Road Transport and Highways, and attended by Principal Secretary, PWD, G. Kamalvardhana Rao, convener, CRDP, T. Balakrishnan, NHAI and State government officials in Delhi had recommended the proposal to the Union Minister for approval.
The land acquisition will be worked out on the basis of The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act. The rate notified by the District Collector will have a rational linking with the sale deed rates (average of top 50% of preceding three year from the date of the 3A notification).
Statutory clearances
The State has been asked to obtain the requisite statutory clearances simultaneously so that the clearances are in place before notification under 3D is published. While recommending the project, it was agreed that the bids of the project would be invited only after completion of the proceedings under Section 3G of the NH Act for 100% land required for the project.
The State has been asked to deposit its entire share of land acquisition cost with the NHAI as soon as the Competent Authority of Land Acquisition (CALA) finalises the award of compensation under Section 3G of the NH Act. The NHAI will later deposit its share and the State’s share to the CALA.
The vertical clearance and size of Vehicle Under Pass and others will be under the Bharatmala Pariyojana. Further, LVUPS will be provided on the local and village roads wider than 22 ft. The State has also been asked to set up a dedicated unit/cell to ensure expeditious completion of land acquisition, utility shifting and to obtain statutory clearances.
