Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has moved to remarkably bolster the infrastructure surrounding the Vizhinjam International Seaport by approving the acquisition of 230 acres of land. The project, estimated to cost approximately ₹810 crore, was cleared during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday.

According to an official statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), the land will be sourced from the Kottukal, Maranallur and Amaravila regions. The acquisition process will be conducted under the "Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR Act)”.

To fund the initial phase, the Cabinet sanctioned the use of ₹283.68 crore from the Plan Scheme Treasury Saving Bank (PSTSB) account of Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL). The statement added that "the remaining amount will be taken from the currently approved NABARD loan”.

Beyond simple acquisition, the Cabinet has empowered VISL to spearhead "all the activities related to the port-led industrialisation on the 230 acres of land to be acquired”.

New policy for street children

In a separate but major move, the Cabinet also resolved to establish a formal policy for the safety and rehabilitation of street children across the state. This initiative follows a "2022 Supreme Court order regarding the protection of street children”. The approved framework includes a comprehensive plan to provide identity documents to ensure the "safety, protection and health of street children”.
PTI