Vizhinjam development: Land acquisition to be expedited; CM inaugurates full EXIM operations

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Land acquisition for logistics and warehousing facilities at Vizhinjam, which has now become a full-fledged export-import (EXIM) port, will be expedited, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan announced while inaugurating full-scale EXIM operations at the port. Satheesan also announced the ‘Mission Samudra’ project and unveiled its logo. The first two EXIM containers were flagged off as part of the event.

As part of ‘Mission Samudra’, a cruise terminal will be established in Kochi. Passenger ship services will operate from Kochi to Dubai and Goa, while a Kasaragod-Thiruvananthapuram service will also be introduced. Space will be provided at Cochin Port for the cruise terminal.

The Chief Minister said KINFRA and INKEL had been directed to acquire the maximum possible land in and around Vizhinjam. The government would take responsibility for completing land acquisition and other related processes within a stipulated timeframe, he said.

Kerala Kaumudi had earlier reported that Tamil Nadu could attract investors if land was not acquired for logistics and industrial parks and container yards.

Port company to acquire 200 acres

The land will be acquired for logistics parks, warehousing spaces, container freight stations, free industrial zones and fish-processing zones.

The government has permitted the port company to acquire 200 acres within a 10-km radius of the port at a cost of ₹1,000 crore.

Land in the first phase is to be allotted to warehousing, container and Indian Oil Corporation projects, which have announced projects worth ₹2,000 crore. Land will also be provided to KSIE for a freight station.

The Warehousing Corporation has sought 50 acres close to the railway line for a warehouse-logistics complex. Indian Oil Corporation requires 20 acres for a bunkering facility to refuel ships.

Container Corporation will establish a logistics park and container freight station. Central public sector undertakings will provide a fixed percentage of their revenue to the State Government.

More than 100 entrepreneurs seek land

More than 100 private entrepreneurs have approached the port company seeking land. They require around 10 acres each for logistics and industrial parks. The land to be acquired may include plantations, leased land and privately owned barren land. A legal amendment will be required to use plantation land for other purposes.

“We have lost 10 years. If road and rail connectivity had been in place, the benefits available today would have been 100 times greater. Land acquisition for the Outer Ring Road will cost ₹3,200 crore. If it had been done earlier, it would have been completed for ₹1,600 crore.”

— V.D. Satheesan, Chief Minister