Thiruvananthapuram’s airport expansion, drainage modernisation, port development and water-security projects received a fresh administrative push after Transport Minister C P John and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor reviewed proposals requiring state and central intervention on Tuesday.
The meeting focused on accelerating projects in the capital district and identifying proposals that could be pursued through the state government, the MP and central ministries. District collector K S Anju also attended the discussions. The participants agreed to pursue funding, clearances and administrative decisions needed to move several initiatives forward.
Among the proposals discussed was the acquisition of the remaining 22 acres required for the development of Thiruvananthapuram airport. The meeting also considered issues related to the state’s mining corridor and the rejuvenation of Akkulam Lake, an urban water body that has been identified as a priority for restoration.
The state government will take steps to secure central funds through the city corporation and submit proposals under the Urban Challenge Fund. The meeting also reviewed the proposed Melarannoor flyover, which is expected to require coordination with the railways, along with the establishment of multimodal logistics parks and green-fuel bunkering facilities at ports in the district.
Port and maritime proposals formed a significant part of the agenda. The participants discussed using Sagarmala funds for Vizhinjam port, obtaining central funding for the National Waterway and developing Valiyathura port. The rehabilitation of families affected by projects was also included among the issues requiring attention.
The meeting identified several demands to be raised with the Centre through Tharoor. These include an income tax exemption for the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, or KSRTC, and the possibility of extending assistance to the transport corporation through the MP Local Area Development Scheme. The discussions did not establish whether these requests have received approval from the Union government.
Central assistance will also be sought for measures to prevent coastal erosion and for modernising Thiruvananthapuram’s drainage network. The drainage proposal comes alongside the Akkulam Lake rejuvenation plan, placing water management and flood-related infrastructure among the district’s immediate priorities, although the meeting did not specify project costs, timelines or implementation agencies.
Water-storage capacity was another issue raised during the discussions. Tharoor has been tasked with taking up a proposal to increase the storage capacity of Peppara dam with the Union environment ministry for the necessary clearance. The source report did not provide details on the proposed increase or the status of the environmental approval process.
The meeting also considered the possibility of establishing a Tata hospital using corporate social responsibility funds. No details were provided on the proposed location, capacity, funding commitment or implementation schedule. The next steps identified in the discussions are the submission of funding proposals, coordination with the railways and central ministries, and efforts by the MP and state government to secure the required approvals and assistance.
