Karamana-Vellarada Road Widening Project Faces Major Delays in Thiruvananthapuram
The ambitious Karamana-Vellarada Road widening project, designed to enhance connectivity between central and southern parts of Thiruvananthapuram district, continues to encounter significant setbacks. Key administrative clearances and persistent land acquisition hurdles remain unresolved, effectively stalling progress on this crucial infrastructure initiative.
Project Overview and Current Status
This infrastructure development involves upgrading a substantial 35.5-kilometre stretch from Karamana through Peyad and Kattakada to Vellarada. The primary objective is to alleviate traffic pressure on the heavily congested Thiruvananthapuram-Kattakada-Vellarada corridor. After years of discussion and planning, the project was estimated to cost approximately Rs 225.3 crore.
Officials have confirmed that the finance department has yet to grant essential financial clearance for land acquisition and compensation disbursement. This bureaucratic delay has particularly impacted the first phase from Karamana to Kundamankadavu, where progress has slowed to a crawl.
Implementation Challenges and Legal Complications
The Road Infrastructure Company of Kerala (RICK), serving as the implementing agency, submitted a detailed proposal to the Public Works Department seeking sanction of funds. This proposal included a substantial Rs 120-crore release specifically earmarked for land compensation in the initial stretch. However, this critical file has remained pending at the Finance Department for several months without resolution.
Sources familiar with the project have revealed additional complications. Unresolved legal petitions filed by landowners at three distinct locations along the proposed route have further complicated the acquisition process. These legal entanglements have effectively stalled land acquisition proceedings, creating a significant bottleneck.
Political Perspective and Future Outlook
CK Hareendran MLA, who oversees the project locally, acknowledged the extensive delays during recent discussions. He indicated that government clearance appears unlikely during the current assembly term due to the combination of legal challenges and pending financial approvals. "There are legal challenges in certain sections that must be addressed through due process," Hareendran stated, while confirming that efforts are underway to resolve these issues systematically.
Officials emphasize that without the necessary financial clearances, neither land acquisition nor subsequent construction activities can proceed. This creates a circular problem where legal issues prevent financial approval, and lack of funding prevents resolution of land disputes.
Project Specifications and Community Impact
When eventually implemented, the widened road is expected to deliver multiple benefits:
- Enhanced regional connectivity between urban and rural hubs
- Significant reduction in travel times for commuters
- Support for increased economic activity throughout the region
- Improved road safety through modern infrastructure features
The project was originally conceived as a comprehensive two-lane upgrade incorporating modern amenities including improved drainage systems, dedicated footpaths, and enhanced street lighting. However, the scale of required land acquisition has proven particularly challenging, given the large number of commercial and residential properties situated along the route.
Community Concerns and Growing Frustration
Local residents and daily commuters have expressed growing concern over the continuing delays. Many emphasize that the road upgrade has become increasingly critical as traffic volumes continue to expand year after year. The current congestion not only increases travel times but also raises serious safety concerns that the widening project was specifically designed to address.
The collective hope remains that resolution of the financial and legal impediments will eventually allow this important infrastructure project to move forward, delivering the promised improvements to connectivity, safety, and economic development for the Thiruvananthapuram region.
