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The Kerala government is fast-tracking the Special Investment Region (SIR) Bill for legislative approval in the upcoming assembly session, aiming to implement land pooling in Thiruvananthapuram amid growing investor interest linked to Vizhinjam Port. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has instructed the revenue and local self-government departments to provide feedback on the proposed Bill, which will be reviewed by the law department before reaching the state cabinet. Plans also include the Outer Area Growth Corridor (OAGC) and the development of logistics and health tourism hubs, paving the way for industrial expansion and economic growth in the region.
The state government has accelerated efforts to present the Special Investment Region (SIR) Bill in the upcoming assembly session for legislative approval. This initiative aims to implement the land-pooling method in Thiruvananthapuram district, particularly in light of growing investor interest linked to the industrialisation opportunities stemming from the Vizhinjam Port. Advertisement
During a high-level meeting last week, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed the revenue and local self-government departments to provide their feedback on the proposed Bill. Once the remarks are collected, the Bill will be forwarded to the law department for review before being submitted to the state cabinet for a final decision.
A senior official from the industries department indicated to reporters from TNN that efforts are being accelerated to maintain investor interest, especially with the trial run of the port already in progress, leading to a surge in demand for industrial units near the port. However, he acknowledged that land availability remains a challenge. To address this, the decision was made to convene a meeting to expedite the implementation of the SIR Act for land pooling, which would facilitate land acquisition and allocation to investors.
Additionally, he noted that the broader strategy includes collaboration with the Capital Region Development Programme-II (CRDP) on the proposed Outer Area Growth Corridor (OAGC), focusing on identifying suitable sites for industrial projects.
At present, the industries department is allocating alternative available land within the district to investors. For example, the government has allocated two acres in Technopark Phase IV, part of the Digital Science Park, for a semiconductor company to establish its manufacturing unit and research facility.
Meanwhile, Kinfra is actively seeking over 250 acres for an industrial park near Vizhinjam Port. However, as of now, no landowners have shown interest in transferring land to Kinfra.
Earlier this year, the CRDP submitted a master plan to the state government to implement the Outer Area Growth Corridor (OAGC) project. This corridor will be situated on both sides of the proposed Outer Ring Road (ORR), extending from Vizhinjam to Navaikulam. The master plan includes a draft report for the SIR aimed at developing the special investment zone.
Furthermore, the plan includes the establishment of eight clusters from Vizhinjam to Navaikulam, which will initially be overseen by a government-constituted special purpose vehicle (SPV). This SPV will subsequently collaborate with private co-developers for the execution of the projects.
Economic zones are proposed along the 78 km stretch of the Outer Ring Road (ORR) at locations including Vizhinjam, Kovalam, Kattakada, Nedumangad, Vembayam, Mangalapuram, Kilimanoor, and Kallambalam. The state is anticipated to provide its final approval for this proposal shortly.
According to the proposal, a logistics and industrial hub is set to be developed over an area of 6.3 square kilometres at Vizhinjam, while a health tourism hub will occupy 4.01 square kilometres at Kovalam.
Two of the eight clusters have been selected for the seed development area (SDA). The first SDA is proposed for Vizhinjam, where a comprehensive town-planning scheme will be executed. The second SDA is planned for Mangalapuram, where the proposed Neopolis, an integrated mixed-use township, will be established.
In conclusion, the SIR Bill and related initiatives are set to transform Thiruvananthapuram into a thriving industrial hub, attracting investments and fostering economic development. The proactive approach of the state government indicates a commitment to addressing land availability challenges and enhancing investor confidence in the region.
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