Outer area growth corridor project set to begin in 2025

Thiruvananthapuram: The much-anticipated outer area growth corridor (OAGC) project, spanning from Vizhinjam to Navaikulam, is set to begin in April 2025, alongside the development of the outer ring road (ORR).
The project, aimed at enhancing economic growth and infrastructure in the capital, will launch with the construction of the IT mixed-use township Neopolis at Technopark Phase IV in Pallipuram.
The capital region development programme II (CRDP-II), the project consultant, has re-tendered the selection process for a suitable project management consultant (PMC) to establish the OAGC's project management unit after previously appointed Kerala Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation Ltd (Kitco) was deemed unsuitable for the scale of the project.
The re-tendering was initiated after potential bidders requested further clarifications, prompting CRDP-II to reopen the selection process, with Oct 30 as the deadline for finalizing a bidder. The selection is expected to take around 45 days.
A source close to the project revealed that the state govt's approval of the CRDP-prepared master plan is expected during the current financial year. Once approved, preliminary work on the OAGC will begin in tandem with ORR development starting in April 2025. "The remaining steps include selecting the PMC and securing the govt's approval of the special investment region (SIR) Act, which incorporates land pooling," the source said.
Ajit Kumar, special officer for CRDP, said the SIR Act has been adapted to suit Kerala's unique land acquisition challenges. "Land acquisition is difficult in Kerala, so we've localized the SIR Act. While other states have implemented it, our approach here is different. We've submitted the proposal to the state govt and are awaiting final approval. We also expect approval for the Neopolis project soon," he said.
The first phase of the OAGC will focus on the development of Neopolis, a township spread across 158 hectares at Technopark Phase IV in Pallipuram. Backed by a substantial Rs 1,000 crore seed fund from the Centre, the Neopolis township will focus on aerospace technology, hosting a space park and creating an integrated township for aerospace clusters and related industries, such as electronics, software, and IT.
The township will also include residential buildings, shopping malls, recreational facilities, and five-star hotels, forming a self-sustaining city. It aims to drive innovation in cutting-edge fields like robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, blockchain, and the Internet of Things. The Neopolis project will be developed through a special purpose company, jointly promoted by the corporation, Andoorkonam Panchayat, Mangalapuram Panchayat, CRDP, and Technopark.