Thiruvananthapuram: The Karamana-Vellarada Road widening project, aimed at improving connectivity between the central and southern parts of the district, continues to be delayed as key clearances and land acquisition hurdles remain unresolved.The project involves upgrading the 35.5-kilometre stretch from Karamana through Peyad and Kattakada to Vellarada, ultimately relieving traffic pressure on the Thiruvananthapuram-Kattakada-Vellarada corridor. It was under discussion for several years, and the project cost was estimated at Rs 225.3 crore.Officials said the finance department is yet to grant financial clearance for land acquisition and compensation disbursement, slowing progress on the first phase from Karamana to Kundamankadavu. Sources familiar with the project told local media that unresolved legal petitions filed by landowners at three locations along the route further complicated the process, effectively stalling land acquisition proceedings.The Road Infrastructure Company of Kerala (RICK), the implementing agency, submitted a proposal to the PWD seeking sanction of funds, including a Rs 120-crore release for land compensation in the initial stretch, but the file remained pending at the Finance Department for several months. Unless the financial clearances are granted, land acquisition and subsequent construction cannot proceed, officials added.Speaking about the delays, CK Hareendran MLA, who is overseeing the project locally, acknowledged that govt clearance is unlikely during the current term of the assembly due to the legal entanglements and pending financial approvals. “There are legal challenges in certain sections that must be addressed through due process,” he said, adding that efforts are underway to resolve them.When fully implemented, the widened road is expected to boost regional connectivity, reduce travel times, and support economic activity between urban and rural hubs in and around Thiruvananthapuram. The project was originally envisaged as a two-lane upgrade with modern features such as improved drainage, footpaths, and street lighting, but progress was slow due to the scale of land acquisition required and the large number of commercial and residential properties along the route.Raising concerns over the continuing delays residents and commuters said the upgrade is critical to ease congestion and improve road safety, particularly as traffic volumes grow year after year.
