T’puram: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Wednesday granted environmental clearance for the 62.70-km Greenfield Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road project between Navaikulam and Vizhinjam, proposed as a 4/6-lane section of NH 866. The Rs 8,398.46-crore project will traverse 24 villages across six taluks in the district. The expert appraisal committee had earlier recommended clearance for the project. However, the central cabinet approval is still awaited.The alignment will connect Navaikulam on NH 66 with the Vizhinjam bypass and pass via areas including Kilimanoor, Nedumangad, Kattakkada, Malayinkeezhu, Balaramapuram and Vizhinjam. The project requires 314.05 hectares, of which 251.24 hectares is private non-forest land. No forest land is proposed to be diverted.“The proceedings are getting completed. The cabinet approval is expected within two weeks. Once it is approved, the compensation disbursal will begin for the affected landowners,“ the official said.The clearance comes with stringent environmental conditions, particularly for wetlands and wildlife. The project alignment crosses wetlands at three locations, besides paddy fields and marshy areas. Viaducts, flyovers and box culverts have been proposed at several stretches to maintain natural drainage and animal movement. Around 17 tunnels and 50 viaducts with a cumulative length of 11.974km are also planned.According to the clearance document, around 21,000 trees are likely to be felled within the right of way, while 2.1 lakh trees are proposed to be planted. A biodiversity assessment identified 84 potentially vulnerable species and 12 roadkill hotspots along the alignment. Wildlife crossings, underpasses, fencing, speed regulation, warning signs and animal detection systems have been proposed.The project is expected to improve connectivity to Vizhinjam port and emerging industrial, logistics, health tourism and IT hubs, besides diverting commercial and passenger traffic from urban areas. Land acquisition is estimated to cost Rs 4,129.73 crore.
