Kerala is preparing an integrated port network aimed at turning the entire state into a single port city and shifting a major share of cargo movement from roads to the sea, Chief Minister V D Satheesan said in an interview with PTI. The plan places Vizhinjam International Seaport at the centre of a wider logistics strategy covering the state’s ports, coastline, rivers, airports and industrial sectors.
Satheesan said the government had begun work on connecting Kerala’s ports and making better use of its approximately 600-km coastline with the assistance of maritime and shipping experts. The proposed network is intended to reduce road traffic by moving 50 per cent of logistics activity to coastal and maritime routes, he said.
Vizhinjam, located close to an international shipping route, has already started export-import operations, according to the Chief Minister. He said the port’s proximity to the international route created opportunities to connect it with other ports and expand the state’s maritime activity.
The government’s plan includes developing Kerala’s other ports and improving links between port-based activity and sectors such as agriculture, spices, tourism, micro, small and medium enterprises, and the blue economy. Satheesan also referred to plans to promote cruise tourism, connect the state’s 44 rivers and increase value addition in agricultural and mineral sectors.
The state budget has also announced a Southern Economic Corridor. Satheesan said the corridor would include port-related activities in Thiruvananthapuram, a mineral corridor in Kollam and blue-economy activities in Alappuzha. The government has not provided, in the reported interview, a detailed project schedule, investment estimate or implementation plan for the corridor or the proposed statewide port integration.
The Chief Minister acknowledged that Kerala’s high population density and restrictions governing forests, paddy fields and coastal zones could complicate the development of new industries and infrastructure. The state’s logistics expansion will therefore involve coordinating port development with land-use regulations and the existing settlement pattern along the coast.
Satheesan also outlined plans to make Kerala an aviation hub by using its four international airports, which are located relatively close to one another. Proposed projects include an international convention centre in Kochi, an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facility, a pilot-training institute in Kannur, helicopter-training facilities, and cargo and logistics services.
The future ownership structure of Vizhinjam is another issue under examination. Satheesan said a proposed transfer of shares in Vizhinjam International Seaport to Mediterranean Shipping Company was being reviewed to protect the state’s interests and prevent monopoly conditions. An empowered committee headed by the Chief Secretary is examining the proposal.
Under the concession agreement, the proposed transfer requires approval from the state government, which owns the port, as well as strategic clearance from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Satheesan said. The state government will consider the committee’s report after the Centre grants the required clearance.
The Chief Minister said the government’s main concerns were protecting the state’s interests, preventing monopoly and ensuring access to common services. He added that the concession agreement already contained provisions addressing monopolistic practices and protecting common facilities. The committee’s findings and the required central clearance are the next formal steps in the proposed share transfer process.
