Kerala's Coastal Highway Project: Land Acquisition Process Begins In Thirurvananthapuram District

Land acquisition and structural assessment for the coastal highway connecting Pozhiyoor to Kappil in Thiruvananthapuram district have officially begun, marking the first concrete step toward realising Kerala’s 650 km long Thiruvananthapuram–Kasaragod coastal corridor.

The Rs 6,500 crore project, aimed at improving coastal connectivity and promoting tourism and trade, has been under discussion for several years.

The Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB), the implementing agency, has now submitted a revised cost estimate to the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) for financial approval.

Officials said the revision was necessitated by delays and the sharp increase in land prices.

“We are trying to float the tender by December 2025. We received the DPR and are reviewing it. Land acquisition process is going on simultaneously, and we will disburse compensation to affected landowners after KIIFB nod. The KIIFB review may take some time,” a senior KRFB official was quoted as saying by ToI.

The National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) submitted the detailed project report (DPR) earlier this month for the estimated costs for four project reaches planned in the district.

The project’s first phase, from Adimalathura through Vizhinjam, Kovalam, and up to Kumarichantha is expected to see construction begin by January 2026, following tender finalisation.

However, rehabilitation concerns have slowed progress.

The Kerala State Coastal Area Development Corporation (KSCADC), tasked with assessing resettlement options, found that most fishermen prefer monetary compensation to relocation in government-built flats.

This feedback has complicated the design of the resettlement package and delayed consensus.

Local resistance from fisher communities, worried about losing livelihoods and damage to the coastal ecosystem, remains a key challenge.

To address these issues, the government has initiated social impact assessments and community consultations across the identified reaches.

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