The land acquisition process for the 50-km-long, eight-lane Aroor-Angamaly NH 544 Bypass (Kochi Outer Ring Road) is set to gain pace, with the Section 3(a) notification under the National Highways Act, 1956 being published.

This would be followed by the re-issuing of the 3(A) notification. The 3A notification issued in 2024 for what was then the 44-km-long, six-lane NH linking Angamaly and Netoor had expired that year, reportedly for want of follow-up action.

The width of the six-lane corridor had been fixed at 45 metres. This was revised to 70 metres over a month ago, following the Centre’s decision to build an eight-lane NH in its place and to begin its alignment from near Aroor on the Alappuzha border. For this, land would be acquired from two more villages — Kumbalam and Aroor — through which the 6-km-long extension would pass through.