The Kerala Government has dissolved the Kerala Maritime Board (KMB) with immediate effect, citing persistent administrative failures, financial irregularities, and the Board’s inability to fulfill its statutory responsibilities under the Kerala Maritime Board Act, 2017. The decision was notified through an Extraordinary Gazette Notification issued on July 6, 2026.
According to the notification, the government found that the Board had consistently failed to discharge its mandated functions, including the submission of annual administrative reports for the financial years 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25. This prevented the State Government from fulfilling its legal obligation of placing these reports before the Kerala Legislative Assembly.
The government also referred to observations made in the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit report for the financial year ending March 31, 2023. The audit highlighted significant financial management issues, including revenue arrears, poor budget utilization, expenditure without budgetary allocation, underutilization of funds, and other fiscal irregularities, indicating a serious lack of financial discipline within the Board.
Another key factor behind the decision was the Board’s own communication to the government stating that 13 of Kerala’s 17 minor ports—around 76% of those under its jurisdiction—currently lack operational infrastructure or port activities. The Board had requested the government to declare these ports as “non-operational” under the Indian Ports Act, 2025, which the government viewed as a fundamental failure in carrying out its core mandate of managing and developing the state’s minor ports.
The notification further noted that the Board had failed to comply with government directives relating to the preparation of the State Maritime and Water Transport Plan 2047 and the integration of port services, reflecting broader shortcomings in governance and strategic planning.
Invoking the powers vested under Sections 90(1) and 90(2) of the Kerala Maritime Board Act, 2017, the Kerala Government has officially dissolved the Kerala Maritime Board with immediate effect. The notification states that the decision was taken based on the Board’s continued administrative failures, financial indiscipline, and inability to meet its statutory obligations.