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Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Kerala falls behind while TN eyes Vizhinjam port windfall
Thiruvananthapuram: While the Kerala govt continues to struggle with land acquisition for industries near the Vizhinjam International Seaport, neighbouring Tamil Nadu has moved swiftly to capitalise on the port's potential. The Tamil Nadu govt recently approved four new SIPCOT industrial parks in Tirunelveli district—just across the border and within easy reach of Vizhinjam. A govt order has been issued to acquire over 2,260 acres of land for two parks in Nanguneri. A third park is planned at Moolakaraipatti, while Phase 2 of the existing SIPCOT park in Gangaikondan is ready for launch. All these parks are being developed to utilize the potential of Vizhinjam Port. Meanwhile, social media in Tamil Nadu has been abuzz with posts highlighting these new industrial developments, positioning south Tamil Nadu as the prime beneficiary of Vizhinjam's transhipment traffic and economic potential. Many posts underline the proximity of these parks to the port, promoting it as a strategic advantage—especially since the state missed out on developing a port at Enayam or Colachel. In stark contrast, Kerala has so far identified only about 100 acres near the port through Kinfra, with land negotiations still ongoing in other areas of Thiruvananthapuram district. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gold Is Surging in 2025 — Smart Traders Are Already In IC Markets Learn More Undo A senior Kerala govt official, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged that Tamil Nadu, which has large land parcels available, is seizing the opportunity and attracting investors by offering competitive lease rates—between Rs 70 lakh and Rs 1 crore for 99 years. "This will adversely impact Thiruvananthapuram's industrial prospects. Major investments may shift to Tamil Nadu if Kerala fails to act swiftly on port-led industrialisation," the official said. APM Mohammed Hanish, principal secretary of the industries department, said Kerala envisions a port-based development corridor stretching from Palakkad to Vizhinjam. "Just as industrial parks are coming up in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin, we already have one in Palakkad. The distance from Palakkad to Thiruvananthapuram is only six hours. The port's impact should extend along this corridor," he said. He added that Kinfra has identified 150 acres a few kilometres away from Vizhinjam Port and the govt is looking for land in Thiruvananthapuram district. At the recent Invest Kerala summit, several investors expressed interest in setting up units near Vizhinjam. Dubai-based Sharaf Group offered to invest Rs 5,000 crore in an Inland Container Terminal. However, the govt asked them to find suitable land on their own. Kinfra had identified about 340 acres in areas like Neyyattinkara, Balaramapuram, Kattakada and Kuttichal, but most of this land still lacks official clearance.
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Outer area growth corridor project in Thiruvananthapuram faces more delay
: The outer area growth corridor (OAGC) project, one of the flagship development initiatives spearheaded by the capital region development programme (CRDP), is facing yet another delay. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The project, planned as part of Vizhinjam port-related industrialisation, remains in limbo as local self-govt department (LSGD) is yet to approve the revised master plan and detailed project report (DPR) submitted by CRDP. OAGC was envisioned to support the structured expansion of the city by developing peripheral zones, easing urban congestion and enhancing infrastructure in emerging suburbs. Economic zones have been proposed at Vizhinjam, Kovalam, Kattakada, Nedumangad, Vembayam, Mangalapuram, Kilimanoor and Kallambalam as part of the project. However, procedural delays stalled its implementation. According to LSGD sources, CRDP's latest submissions are still under review with no significant progress. "The revised master plan and DPR have been with the department for several weeks now, but the file hasn't moved forward," said an official familiar with the developments. State govt's priority is to develop Vizhinjam-Kollam-Punalur industrial corridor project, said sources. Ajit Kumar, CRDP special officer, who pioneered the project's master plan, will be transferred to New Delhi as part of central deputation, sources said . Earlier, LSGD sought modifications to the initial proposals, citing planning inconsistencies and lack of clarity on key infrastructure elements. CRDP revised and resubmitted the documents. Despite this, bureaucratic bottlenecks continue to stall the project. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "The intention was to kickstart work by mid-2025 but with the current pace of approvals, that timeline seems increasingly unrealistic," said an official. Meanwhile, APM Mohammed Hanish, principal secretary, industries department, told TOI that state govt has taken up the delay issue and will expedite the proceedings as soon as possible. "The file is in LSGD. This project doesn't come under the industries department. However, govt will take prompt action," Hanish said. However, when contacted, senior LSGD officials were unavailable for comment. Urban planners and local stakeholders expressed concern over the delay, warning that prolonged inaction could affect the city's future growth prospects. "Thiruvananthapuram is expanding rapidly and without a coordinated plan for its outskirts, we risk facing serious urban sprawl and infrastructure stress," said SN Raghuchandran Nair, president, Thiruvananthapuram Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Earlier, CRDP retendered a new project management consultant after finding the previously appointed Kitco Ltd unsuitable for a project of this scale. However, officials remain optimistic about commencing the OAGC project by this year.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
After inauguration of Vizhinjam port, Kerala govt now seeks to speed up industrialization
T'puram: With the commissioning of the Vizhinjam International Seaport, the state industries department has fast-tracked port-led industrialization under the ambitious Outer Area Growth Corridor (OAGC) project in Thiruvananthapuram. A key move in this direction is the long-awaited Special Investment Region (SIR) Bill, which aims to replace traditional land acquisition with a more investor-friendly land pooling mechanism. According to the industries department, the bill is set to be tabled in the next assembly session. SIR is an area designated by a govt to attract and facilitate investments, often offering incentives and regulatory frameworks tailored to specific sectors or industries. The bill is currently under review by the local self-govt (LSG) and revenue departments. Once their inputs are incorporated, the state cabinet will approve the draft before tabling it in the next legislative assembly session. "The state govt is very serious about port-led industrialisation, which is why the process is moving quickly," said APM Mohammed Hanish, principal secretary of the industries department. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cost Of Amusement Park Equipment From Mexico Might Surprise You - See Tips Amusement Park Equipment | search ads Click Here Undo The bill was earlier expected to be presented in a previous session but was delayed due to suggestions and revisions from the LSG department. Meanwhile, the Vizhinjam port is drawing a wave of investments in the vicinity. Dubai-based Sharaf Group, a major investor, has expressed strong interest in setting up an inland container terminal near the port. Several logistics firms are also scouting for large land parcels to develop container freight stations, logistics parks, and warehouses. To facilitate this, Kinfra — an agency under the Industries Department — is actively identifying suitable land, including 100 acres for Sharaf Group. It is also exploring over 250 acres for developing an industrial park in the vicinity of the port. Capital Region Development Programme-II (CRDP), the consultant of the state govt, is collaborating with the industries department to implement the OAGC, a strategic corridor aligning with the proposed Outer Ring Road (ORR) from Vizhinjam to Navaikulam. CRDP submitted a comprehensive masterplan last year, which includes a draft report for the creation of the SIR and development of industrial zones. The 78-kilometre ORR will pass through eight proposed economic clusters — Vizhinjam, Kovalam, Kattakada, Nedumangad, Vembayam, Mangalapuram, Kilimanoor, and Kallambalam. These clusters will initially be managed by a govt-formed special purpose vehicle (SPV), which will later partner with private co-developers to execute projects.
