T’puram: The commencement of export-import (EXIM) cargo operations at Vizhinjam International Seaport has prompted the state industries department to accelerate land acquisition and logistics infrastructure projects aimed at creating a port-centric industrial ecosystem in Thiruvananthapuram.The acquisition of around 125 acres at Kattakada-Kuttichal, close to the proposed outer ring road (ORR), has reached the final stage. The technical aspects of the proposal are currently under review by the district administration, and officials expect the acquisition process to be completed soon. The department has also identified around 600 acres at various locations in the district. The department is also looking to work with Kinfra and Inkel to create a large land bank in the district by pooling available govt and PSU land for future port-linked investments.This move is significant because the proposed ORR is expected to become a key link between the port and industrial clusters extending toward Navaikulam. The state govt has been pursuing direct acquisition as a faster alternative to land pooling in locations where immediate availability of industrial land is crucial.Industries department additional chief secretary A P M Mohammed Hanish told TOI that the govt would act as a catalyst by making land available for port-related industrial development wherever possible. “The department is also examining govt-owned land and parcels held by public sector undertakings to build a larger land bank around Vizhinjam,” he said.On Tuesday, chief minister V D Satheesan stressed the need for conceptualising a framework to complete the land acquisition speedily.Govt has already been moving to create immediate logistics facilities using existing state-owned land. Nearly five acres at Trivandrum Spinning Mills in Balaramapuram have been identified for the proposed first container freight station (CFS) linked to Vizhinjam, while another five acres at Kerala Automobiles Ltd has been earmarked for an empty-container yard.According to Hanish, both these projects will break ground next month as these projects are also included in the state govt’s 100-day programme.The projects are being taken forward by the industries department and Kerala State Industrial Enterprises Ltd (KSIE), with the facilities expected to significantly reduce the distance containers have to travel for port-related processing.An integrated logistics hub is also being planned in the southern part of the district at Uchakkada near Karode, close to NH 66, on 14 acres of Integrated Powerloom Village Industrial Co-operative Society. This hub will be implemented by the department collaborating with VISL.The state is simultaneously pursuing a much larger logistics programme with central public sector undertakings. In Feb, govt signed MoUs with Indian Oil Corporation, Container Corporation of India and Central Warehousing Corporation for a Rs 2,000-crore logistics master plan at Vizhinjam. The plan envisages bunkering facilities, rail-linked cargo infrastructure, and a multimodal logistics park with warehousing and export-linked facilities.CWC has already been examining the possibility of establishing a CFS and warehouse at Vizhinjam, while its latest plans include a multimodal logistics facility in the port’s catchment area. Hanish added that CWC will initially start its operations on the five acres of land at Travancore Titanium Products Ltd in Veli, which will provide them on lease.Officials believe that early availability of industrial and logistics land will be critical to ensuring that Vizhinjam’s growing cargo volumes translate into manufacturing, warehousing, freight and other economic activity across the district. In addition to govt lands, private investors are looking for land near the port to start the logistics parks and warehouses. However, the exorbitant land price close to the port is challenging, and they are still negotiating with the landowners and real estate agents. On Thursday, many steamer agents and people from the EXIM community from Tamil Nadu visited the port and evinced interest in starting business in the port surroundings.
