The Kerala government is set to overhaul the structure and powers of the Kerala Maritime Board as part of its ambitious Mission Samudra initiative, with the Chief Minister set to take over as the Board’s chairman.
A Bill to amend the Kerala Maritime Board Act, 2017, is scheduled to be introduced in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, paving the way for reforms aimed at accelerating port development, attracting private investment and strengthening the state’s maritime infrastructure.
Under the proposed amendments, a separate port development authority will be established under the Maritime Board for the development of each port. The Board will also be empowered to buy and sell shares in companies registered under the Companies Act, including companies controlled by the Central and state governments, to facilitate port infrastructure development.
The government also plans to establish a maritime land bank by consolidating land associated with ports and owned by the state government. Land currently held by other government departments may be transferred to the Board to facilitate port-related projects.
At present, the Board can lease land for a period of up to 30 years. The proposed amendments will allow it to transfer land for public-private partnership (PPP) projects. The lease period may also be extended to support projects involving higher investments.
The lack of a legal provision permitting land transfers for PPP projects has reportedly stalled more than 20 port-based projects, even after the planning process was completed.
The proposed changes will also alter the Board’s leadership structure. While the chairman has so far been appointed from among serving or retired All India Service officers and individuals with administrative experience in government, public sector undertakings, major ports or maritime boards, the amendment proposes to place the Chief Minister directly at the helm.
The reforms are expected to remove regulatory bottlenecks, unlock the potential of port-related land assets and encourage private participation in developing Kerala’s maritime infrastructure.
The initiative is part of the state government’s broader effort to strengthen its ports, improve maritime connectivity and attract fresh investments into the sector.