T’puram: A year after Capital Region Development Programme-II (CRDP-II) submitted the master plan for the ambitious Outer Area Growth Corridor (OAGC) project, the state govt is yet to grant formal approval, prompting concerns that bureaucratic foot-dragging could stall industrialization linked to Vizhinjam International Seaport.The delay frustrated private investors and planners who viewed the corridor as central to creating a robust industrial ecosystem around the deep-water port. Sources within CRDP-II said that the master plan, which envisages port-led growth stretching from Vizhinjam to Navaikulam through a series of eight economic clusters aligned with the proposed Thiruvananthapuram outer ring road (ORR), was under review in the local self-govt (LSG) department for over a year. Critics alleged the govt deliberately delayed the process because the plan favoured land pooling over traditional land acquisition, a method that required negotiating with multiple stakeholders rather than enabling quick purchase by the state. “The file circulated between departments without clear direction,” said an official familiar with the matter. “Local bodies raised procedural concerns, especially regarding land pooling and implementation of the draft Special Investment Region (SIR) Bill, which was seen as a prerequisite for the project,” he said. The SIR concept, which was intended to replace compulsory acquisition with a more collaborative approach to land assembly, promised to make large land parcels available for investors more efficiently while offering regulatory incentives. However, LSG department’s reservations, rooted in the complexities of coordinating dozens of local self-govts across the corridor, slowed progress. Meanwhile, the proposal to introduce the land-pooling bill in the state assembly was deferred last year, effectively shelving the framework that could facilitate the OAGC’s execution. Officials from industries department said the delay was also linked to revenue department’s review of land dimensions and implementation issues. “Decentralizing norms for SIR implementation is a major concern,” principal secretary APM Mohammed Hanish told TOI. “That requires reconciliation between departments. However, the govt will intervene to resolve these matters.” He added that Kinfra was continuing efforts to identify viable land for investment, stressing that a minimum 1,000 acres would be required to kickstart industrial clusters. “We identified over 500 acres so far,” he said. Investor interest, once strong, waned as uncertainty persisted. “Many investors showed interest but withdrew due to lack of clear communication from the govt,” a source close to CRDP said, adding that logistics firms and manufacturing players sought land in the district but lost confidence due to delays.
