Thiruvananthapuram: The compensation disbursal for landowners who surrendered property for the four-laning of Karamana-Kaliyikkavila Road has once again hit a roadblock, leaving over 100 affected families in uncertainty as revenue officials were reassigned for election duties.The delay comes despite earlier directions from district administration to expedite payments. Of the nearly 200 landowners who gave up land for widening the 1.5-km Kodinada-Vazhimukku stretch at Balaramapuram, only around 80 have received compensation so far, sources said. The project, implemented by Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB), is part of a major effort to ease congestion along the southern stretch of NH 66 and improve connectivity to Neyyattinkara and Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. “We surrendered our land nearly a year ago, believing the govt’s assurances. But we are still waiting for compensation. Many of us have lost our only source of income,” said Mahesh Paramasivam, a shop owner whose building was partially demolished for the project. Another landowner, Shylaja B, said the repeated delays have pushed families into financial distress. “We vacated our property after officials told us the payment would be credited soon. Now we are paying rent elsewhere and struggling to manage daily expenses,” she said. Officials attribute the latest delay to administrative constraints linked to the ongoing election process. However, a senior KRFB official maintained that the model code of conduct does not affect compensation proceedings already initiated. “The compensation process began months ago and can continue. The current slowdown is mainly due to manpower diversion for election-related duties. Once officials return, the remaining disbursal will be completed in a phased manner,” the official said. KRFB earlier secured over Rs 100 crore for compensation, but disbursal has been staggered due to procedural hurdles, including verification of land records and fund transfers through district administration. While compensation remains pending, further progress of the project is also likely to be delayed. Officials confirmed that tenders for the road construction can be floated only after the election code of conduct is lifted. The four-laning project envisions expanding the stretch into a 30m-wide corridor, a key link in broader Karamana-Kaliyikkavila highway upgrade, which has faced repeated delays over the years due to land acquisition issues and administrative bottlenecks. For now, affected landowners say timely compensation is critical not just for their livelihoods, but also for ensuring the long-delayed infrastructure project finally moves forward.
