With the development of Vizhinjam International Seaport entering a crucial phase, Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd. (VISL) has directed revenue authorities to complete land acquisition for key road and rail connectivity projects by March 31, 2027, to ensure timely execution of critical infrastructure supporting the port’s expansion.
The directive was issued by VISL Managing Director Geromic George during a high-level review meeting held at the Thiruvananthapuram Collectorate. The meeting was attended by deputy collectors overseeing land acquisition, special tahsildars, senior revenue officials, representatives of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the VISL CEO, and other officials involved in the implementation of the projects.
The review focused on the progress of land acquisition for the Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road (ORR), the proposed cloverleaf interchange connecting the Vizhinjam Port approach road with NH 66, and the acquisition of land along both sides of the Vizhinjam–Balaramapuram railway line, a key component of the port’s multimodal connectivity network.
George instructed officials to accelerate all stages of the acquisition process, including land surveys, ownership verification, statutory notifications, compensation awards, and payment disbursement to landowners. Stressing the need to avoid administrative delays, he directed officials to work on a war footing to complete all legal and procedural formalities within the current financial year.
According to officials, the March 31, 2027 deadline has been set to ensure that all land required for these strategic infrastructure projects is available before construction enters the next phase of the port’s expansion.
The review comes at a time when land acquisition continues to be one of the major hurdles affecting the timely execution of connectivity projects linked to India’s first dedicated deep-water international transshipment port. While Vizhinjam Port has commenced commercial operations and continues to witness steady growth in cargo volumes, supporting road and rail infrastructure is still under various stages of development.
A key project under implementation is the 67-km Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road, an access-controlled highway connecting Vizhinjam with Navaikulam. The corridor is expected to ease traffic congestion in Thiruvananthapuram city, improve freight movement, and provide seamless connectivity between the port, NH 66, and major industrial and logistics hubs across southern Kerala.
The proposed cloverleaf interchange at Vizhinjam will provide a grade-separated connection between the port access road and NH 66, enabling uninterrupted movement of container trucks and reducing traffic congestion around the port.
Officials also reviewed the progress of land acquisition along the Vizhinjam–Balaramapuram railway corridor, which will provide rail connectivity from the port to inland cargo destinations and strengthen the port’s multimodal logistics capabilities.
The review meeting underscored VISL’s commitment to removing land acquisition bottlenecks and ensuring that critical connectivity infrastructure is delivered in line with the port’s long-term expansion plans.
