Kannur, Kerala
The Cabinet has approved the draft proposal for the Malabar International Port and Special Economic Zone Limited (MIPSL) project at Azhikkal in Kannur district, signalling a major step forward for Kerala’s maritime infrastructure.
This ambitious project, developed as a Greenfield initiative, aims to enhance the region’s export-import trade by accommodating Panamax container ships with capacities ranging from 5,000 TEU to 75,000 DWT. The Centre for Management and Development has crafted an economic plan to ensure the project’s viability without imposing additional financial strain on the government.
To accelerate the project, the government plans to seek viability gap funding from the Central government. The project will also involve a profit-sharing arrangement, ensuring that the state benefits from the port’s operational success. Comprehensive geotechnical investigations, including soil testing, have been completed, with the final report submitted in January 2022. Key partners, including IIT Madras and Tata Consulting Engineers Limited (TCE), are involved in the planning and consultation stages, with land acquisition efforts underway across multiple districts to support the development of industrial parks and special economic zones associated with the port.
By Priyadharshini
