Kerala CM announces major Secretariat overhaul; proposes dedicated 3-5 pm slot for public visits

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan has announced plans to introduce a more professional and structured system in the Chief Minister's Office, moving away from traditional administrative practices.

Speaking to Mathrubhumi, Satheesan said he will follow a fixed daily schedule while in the state capital to improve efficiency and governance.

The CM said he will arrive at his office at 8 am and remain there until 1:30 pm. After a break, he will meet members of the public from 3 pm to 5 pm. He plans to spend the remainder of the day clearing files and completing official work before leaving the office.

New system aims to improve file processing

Satheesan said most files can be processed quickly, while about 10 percent to 15 percent may require additional discussion, clarification or detailed examination.

Those files will be set aside for further review before decisions are made.

He said the government intends to strengthen the Chief Minister's Office by ensuring support from experts and professionals and by adopting a more professional working culture.

Dashboard to track major government projects

The chief minister said his office will monitor the progress of major projects across all government departments.

A dedicated dashboard will be created to track the status of key initiatives and development projects.

Government departments will be digitally linked to the Chief Minister's Office to enable regular monitoring and review.

Dedicated meeting time for senior bureaucrats

Under the proposed arrangement, department secretaries and special secretaries will be able to meet the chief minister daily between 10 am and 11 am.

Appointments must be scheduled the previous day.

The move is intended to improve coordination between the Chief Minister's Office and various government departments.

Government seeks solution to overcrowding at Secretariat

Satheesan said large numbers of members of the public and party workers currently visit the Secretariat and the state Assembly complex, creating heavy crowds around ministers' offices and the Chief Minister's Office.

He said the government had not imposed restrictions earlier because it was in the initial phase of its tenure. However, the increasing crowds have made day-to-day functioning more difficult.

As a solution, the government plans to introduce a structured system allowing members of the public to enter the Secretariat between 3 pm and 5 pm.

The proposal and related arrangements will be discussed and finalised by the Cabinet before implementation.

According to the chief minister, the new measures are aimed at improving administrative efficiency while ensuring continued public access to government offices.