Thiruvananthapuram: With Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd’s (VISL) development entering a critical phase, VISL managing director Geromic George on Tuesday directed revenue officials to complete land acquisition for key road connectivity and port-linked infrastructure projects before March 31, 2027.The directives were issued during a high-level review meeting held at Thiruvananthapuram collectorate. The meeting was attended by deputy collectors handling land acquisition, special tahsildars, senior revenue officials, representatives of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), VISL CEO and other officials associated with the implementation of the projects.The meeting primarily reviewed the progress of land acquisition for Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road (ORR), the proposed cloverleaf interchange connecting Vizhinjam port approach road with NH 66 and acquisition of land on both sides of Vizhinjam-Balaramapuram railway line, which is being developed as part of the multimodal connectivity network for the port.George instructed officials to expedite every stage of the acquisition process, including surveys, verification of ownership records, statutory notifications, compensation awards and disbursement of payments to landowners. He made it clear that there should be no administrative delays and directed officers to work on a war footing to ensure that all procedures were completed within the current financial year.According to officials, George emphasised that every land parcel required for these strategic projects should be acquired and all legal formalities completed before March 31, 2027, to enable construction activities without interruption. The deadline has been fixed considering the importance of completing critical connectivity infrastructure before the next phase of Vizhinjam port’s expansion.The review assumes significance as land acquisition was one of the biggest challenges delaying several infrastructure projects linked to the country’s first dedicated deep-water international transshipment port. While the port has begun commercial operations and is steadily increasing cargo volumes, the supporting road and rail infrastructure remains under various stages of implementation.Among the most important projects is ORR, a nearly 67-km access-controlled highway connecting Vizhinjam with Navaikulam. The corridor is expected to decongest Thiruvananthapuram city, improve freight movement and provide direct connectivity between the port, NH 66 and major industrial and logistics hubs across southern Kerala.The proposed cloverleaf interchange at Vizhinjam is another crucial component of the connectivity plan. The grade-separated junction will integrate the port approach road with NH 66, allowing uninterrupted movement of container trucks and significantly reducing traffic bottlenecks.The meeting also reviewed progress in acquiring land along both sides of Vizhinjam–Balaramapuram railway corridor, which forms part of the rail connectivity from the port to inland destinations.Officials said the review reflected VISL’s determination to remove bottlenecks that slowed land acquisition in recent months.
