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Time of India
12-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Complete land acquisition in 2 months: State to NHAI
Thiruvananthapuram: State govt issued a two-month ultimatum to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to complete land acquisition proceedings and compensation disbursal for the long-pending outer ring road (ORR) project from Vizhinjam to Navaikulam. At a high-level meeting chaired by chief minister's chief principal secretary K M Abraham on Thursday, PWD secretary K Biju was tasked with coordinating directly with Centre and NHAI to resolve delays that held the project back for over two years. On Friday, state submitted a revised clearance application for the northern section, a month after Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) requested changes. Abraham made it clear that the ORR project remains the state's top priority. He directed NHAI regional officer A K Janbaz to expedite land acquisition proceedings and complete compensation disbursal within two months. While NHAI officials reportedly promised to release the compensation soon, they were unable to provide a fixed timeline. More than 6,000 families across 24 villages have been waiting for compensation for nearly two years, even as their land documents remain with village revenue offices through which the proposed road passes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 기미, 레이저말고 이렇게 해보세요 에스테틱최원장 Undo Despite Rs 700 crore being transferred to NHAI earlier this year to compensate affected landowners, no disbursal has taken place yet. The compensation process was stalled due to pending environmental clearance for the project's northern stretch from Thekkada to Navaikulam, legal complications and a lapse in the tenure of state environment impact assessment authority (SEIAA). Since the SEIAA committee is yet to be reconstituted, MoEFCC is now responsible for all pending environmental approvals. The delay led to considerable frustration among landowners, many of whom participated in a protest organised by outer ring road action council in May. During the agitation at NHAI office in Chackai, the regional officer gave written assurance that disbursal would begin within a month. However, little progress has been made. Meanwhile, rising land acquisition costs are becoming a major concern. Originally estimated at Rs 1,800 crore, the acquisition cost has now surged past Rs 3,800 crore, with further increase expected if the process is delayed beyond Aug, when the current land valuations expire. Under Land Acquisition Act, a 12% annual interest is applicable to delayed payments, putting additional financial pressure on state and Centre. Despite challenges, state govt remains optimistic. Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari reportedly assured the state that final approval for the detailed project report would be granted by July-end. Compensation disbursal and tendering process can begin after that. The ORR, when completed, will stretch approximately 80 km, connecting Vizhinjam International Seaport to National Highway 66, and easing traffic congestion around the state capital. The southern portion of the project, from Vizhinjam to Thekkada, received environmental clearance in 2023, but the northern stretch continues to face regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Crucial meeting on Outer Ring Road to discuss compensation disbursal
Thiruvananthapuram : State govt is poised to take a decisive step on Thursday regarding the much-awaited Outer Ring Road (ORR) project from Vizhinjam to Navaikulam at a high-level meeting convened by chief minister's chief principal secretary K M Abraham. It will be attended by representatives from National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), PWD and revenue department. They will discuss pending compensation for hundreds of landowners whose title deeds remain held at revenue offices. Sources said the meeting was to ensure the timely dispensation of compensation to affected landowners. The meeting will also focus on the cost-sharing between state and the Centre, which currently remains at 50-50. Landowners, represented by action council member S Chandramohan Nair, met with NHAI's regional officer A K Janbaz on Monday to voice their growing concerns. "It has been three years and govt should return our title deeds or immediately give us the compensation," Nair said. He warned of an indefinite hunger strike if matters were not resolved soon. "People gave up their land for this project in good faith and development cannot come at the cost of people's basic rights," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Festival del Cinema di Venezia: attenzione puntata sui registi emergenti Punto di Vista Media S.r.l. Scopri di più Undo In May this year, landowners staged a sit-in at NHAI's Chackai office, following which NHAI regional officer B L Meena assured them in writing that compensation would be paid within a month or the project would be cancelled. Yet, disbursements remain stalled, even though district administration transferred Rs 700 crore to NHAI in Jan. Complicating the situation, a Supreme Court ruling on May 16 struck down a 2017 notification permitting post-facto environmental clearances, stalling the northern segment between Thekkada and Navaikulam as the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) committee lapsed in March. While the southern stretch from Vizhinjam to Thekkada received clearance in 2023, the northern section's progress is legally frozen until new clearance procedures are in place. Meanwhile, a senior PWD official said that "After meeting with minister Riyas and Union Minister Gadkari, the Centre was likely to give final approval to the detailed project report by the end of July." The official added that compensation and tendering could begin in Aug.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
In letter to CM, Abraham calls HC verdict against him as ‘forum shopping'
Thiruvananthapuram: Chief principal secretary to the chief minister and former IAS officer K M Abraham described Kerala high court's April 11 verdict ordering a CBI probe against him as "an unfortunate instance of forum shopping. " He alleged that the court acted beyond its jurisdiction by ordering an investigation through a criminal miscellaneous petition. In a nine-page letter submitted to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on April 15, accessed by TOI, Abraham said the judge's decision to allow a new prayer for CBI investigation in a petition wherein the trial court earlier dismissed the plea for a vigilance probe represents a circumvention of judicial procedure. "The petitioner, whose plea for a vigilance investigation was earlier dismissed by the trial court, sought to circumvent this rejection by introducing an additional prayer for a CBI enquiry within the same proceedings," Abraham wrote. "This represents a direct attempt to bypass established judicial procedure… the hon'ble judge lacked the jurisdiction to consider such a prayer within a Crl.M.C. (criminal miscellaneous case), but nevertheless proceeded to order a CBI investigation," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Sharp Design, Smoother Drives. Toyota Glanza Learn More Undo You Can Also Check: Thiruvananthapuram AQI | Weather in Thiruvananthapuram | Bank Holidays in Thiruvananthapuram | Public Holidays in Thiruvananthapuram The use of the term 'forum shopping', typically associated with attempts to manipulate judicial outcomes by choosing favourable judges, could be construed as casting aspersions on the court's conduct and may risk inviting contempt proceedings under the Contempt of Court Act. Abraham also called for a counter-investigation by state police, alleging that the petitioner conspired with two individuals against whom he submitted adverse reports in his capacity as additional chief secretary. He said he had call data records (CDR) that confirm extensive conversations — over 10,000 seconds with one accused and around 4,000 seconds with the other — between his adversaries and the petitioner. Legal experts point out that these allegations are problematic as access to personal CDR of a citizen may constitute a violation of privacy and telecom laws requiring registration of a crime.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
State govt directs revenue department to expedite land acquisition for Thiruvananthapuram airport runway expansion
Thiruvananthapuram: After months of delay, expansion of runway at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport has gained fresh momentum, with the state govt directing officials to fast-track land acquisition and clear all related bottlenecks. At a high-level meeting chaired by chief principal secretary to the chief minister K M Abraham, the govt instructed the revenue department to expedite procedures for acquiring 22 acres of land needed for the development of the runway end safety area (RESA) — a critical aviation safety feature mandated by international standards. Originally scheduled for completion by Sept 2024, the RESA expansion project has been delayed due to administrative hurdles and land disputes. The latest govt intervention comes as a push to meet safety norms and accommodate the growing passenger traffic at the international airport. One of the major roadblocks to the expansion has been the 4.5 acres of land under BrahMos Aerospace Ltd, a sensitive defence installation. While the land is essential for the expansion, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Union ministry of defence and its transfer requires Centre's approval. The state govt is also working on identifying an alternative site for the Chackai fire and rescue station, which lies within the proposed expansion zone. Officials have also confirmed that portions of Chackai–Shanghumugham Road may need to be taken over for the project, however they reassured that the ITI at Chackai would remain unaffected. Aviation secretary K Biju told TOI that the expansion of the runway is a top priority for both operational safety and long-term development of the airport. "State govt is fully committed to completing the land acquisition process at the earliest. Coordination with the Union ministry of defence is also underway to resolve the BrahMos land issue," he said. The project, once completed, will improve safety margins for aircraft operations, particularly during emergency landings and in adverse weather conditions. It will also enable the airport to handle larger aircraft, enhancing its potential as a key aviation hub in southern India. Airport authorities and AAI officials have welcomed the govt's proactive stance, noting that RESA expansion was critical for retaining international operational certifications. Revenue and transport officials are expected to intensify measures to complete surveys, initiate compensation packages and begin formal land handovers in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the development of Terminal 2 (International) under Project Anantha is likely to be delayed due to pending environmental clearance from the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority.
Deccan Herald
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
SC stays HC order of CBI probe against Kerala CM's ex chief principal secretary
New Delhi: In a relief to K M Abraham, a former IAS officer and the chief principal secretary of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed a High Court order to the CBI to file an FIR and start probe against him in connection with a disproportionate assets case."We stay the Kerala High Court order," Justices Dipankar Datta and Justice Manmohan Principal Secretary K M Abraham should step down, demands V D court also issued notice to the CBI, Kerala government and the complainant-activist Jomon Puthenpurackal, after hearing appeal filed by Abraham. Senior advocate R Basant for Abraham contended that an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act cannot be registered without the mandatory sanction under Section 17A of the on a petition by Puthenpurackal, the Kerala High Court ordered the CBI to file an FIR and start probe against Abraham in connection with the disproportionate assets that the CBI probe was necessary, the HC had said since Abraham had held a Cabinet rank, an investigation by the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau would not instill public confidence. The High Court also said that the vigilance, while conducting a preliminary inquiry, into the property of Abraham, had deliberately excluded the acquisition of his asets and reduced the substantial value of his assets, with the intent to protect a special court at Thiruvananthapuram had rejected the complainant's plea for a probe into the allegations of disproportionate assets against Abraham, citing lack of evidence.
