Let’s start with a story

The Department of Tourism in Thiruvananthapuram was working on developing Veli, a small seaside village, into a domestic tourist destination in the 1980s. However, a problem arose due to the fluctuating water levels in the Veli backwaters. There were two main factors contributing to this issue. The first was the rainwater that flowed into the backwaters from the land when the Pozhi (technically called a bar-built estuary), a natural sand bar along the coast that separates the sea from the backwaters during the summer season, was closed. The second factor was the influx of sea water from the sea when the Pozhi was cut open. As a result, small tourist boats were unable to use a permanent boat jetty to pick up and drop off tourists due to the inconsistent water levels.

Poowar Narayanan, an accomplished engineer and entrepreneur, and his European friend, an architect, found a solution to the fluctuating water levels in Veli. They designed and built the first jetty that floated on the water without sinking, allowing it to be used at all times of the year regardless of the water level. Using this technology, they also built a floating footbridge and a floating restaurant in Veli. These structures were made up of many modular components that could be easily expanded. The Department of Tourism was interested in further developing this technology to create floating hotels and even entire floating villages, which would be a potential solution to the restrictions imposed by Coastal Regulation Zone rules. These semi-permanent structures could be built on any body of water, such as a river, lake, or sea.

Unfortunately, there was a change in administration and the perspective on Veli's development shifted. Despite this, Narayanan continued to believe in his floating technology and built floating hotels and solar fields without government assistance. Today, this technology is being used worldwide to address rising sea levels and floods, with countries in the Pacific islands and Korea adopting it. These countries also use the same modular structures as in Kerala to stay above the water level during high and low tides.

However, despite being one of the early adopters of this technology, Kerala has lost its lead in its development. This is not an uncommon occurrence, and it highlights the need for a change in approach to planning and development in our country. We must be open to embracing new ideas and embracing change in all arenas.

In our culture

Role of ports

If we look back at human history, we can see the important role that ports have played in our culture. Access to water has always been a key factor for people when choosing a place to settle, and it is no coincidence that early humans often chose to live near rivers or the sea. In modern history, we see the same trend with coastal settlements being among the first to develop. European traders, for example, often chose to establish their trading posts in river estuaries or small natural harbours, and from these ports, the English were able to build the large cities of Kolkata, Mumbai, and Madras. Around the same time, the English also developed ports in Kannur, Kozhikode, and Kochi in Kerala. However, these ports in Kerala did not grow into megacities like Chennai, Mumbai, or Kolkata. The reason for this is simple: in order to expand a port into a megacity, it needs a vast hinterland with a strong agro-industrial base to facilitate trade, especially international trade. While our ports in Kerala had valuable trade goods, such as spices, they did not have the necessary hinterlands to become megacities. Ports bring more than just trade; they bring people together and create wealth and great cities.

Importance of cities

Why are cities so important? Urbanisation leads to the creation of cities, which in turn create wealth and provide services, amenities, and prosperity. Cities also attract more expatriates and immigration, which brings talent and fosters growth and a better quality of life. The modern economy is heavily centred on cities, and urbanisation is seen as a cornerstone of economic growth. It creates jobs and income for people and provides taxes for governments. Urbanisation, which was once looked down upon, is now recognized as a driving force for economic growth and progress.

Vizhinjam port is different from other ports in Kerala and even in India in some ways. While other ports grow slowly and organically over time, Vizhinjam is planned for exponential growth that will transform Thiruvananthapuram and Kerala as a whole. It is the first port with the potential to transform the region into a metropolis. The Capital Region Development Project, which has been envisioned by the government, is far ahead of any other in India. It includes a number of projects, such as the Outer Ring Road, a 70-metre wide 80 km road that starts near Vizhinjam and passes through the eastern side of Thiruvananthapuram city in an arch shape before joining the national highway at Navaikulam. This road is not only intended to improve the transportation of containers to and from the port, but it is also the backbone of the new urban development in Thiruvananthapuram. The Outer Ring Road has already been approved by the National Highways Authority, and the state government has issued a notification for land acquisition for the project. Funds for land acquisition have also been made available through the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIFBI).

The new masterplan

This is just the beginning of the development of the Vizhinjam port area. The government has already finalised a plan that includes transportation on both sides of the Outer Ring Road (ORR). The 400 square kilometre area surrounding the port will be the foundation for a new economy based on art and services, as well as a modern satellite township that will eventually merge with the city of Thiruvananthapuram. A master plan for this development, created in conjunction with a world-class masterplan, has been completed. This new master plan is different from many of the narrow, growth-stifling master plans of the past. Instead, it aims to enable growth and rapid urbanisation through organic and creative urbanisation.

Opportunities

Don't miss out on them this time!

We have missed many opportunities for economic development in the past, but now is the time for Kerala and India to seize this opportunity. It took Europe 300 years, America 200 years, Japan 75 years, and Korea 40 years to become developed countries. However, China has achieved the status of a developed society in just 30 years, lifting millions out of poverty in a short period of time. This was made possible through the creation of special economic zones, particularly around ports, under a new legal system designed to increase economic speed. The Special Investment Sector Act (SIR Act), which has been finalised in our Secretariat, is better than the Special Economic Sector Act and has the potential to create the best conditions not only in Thiruvananthapuram, but also in Kerala and other parts of India.

Economic growth can only be achieved through cooperation between the government and the private sector. The government must create a supportive regulatory environment, implement good governance and infrastructure development, while the private sector should focus on creating enterprises that generate jobs, growth, and taxes. A project of this scale cannot be built and financed solely by the government. Each sub-project under this mega-project requires significant private sector investment. The private sector wants stability and security for its people and investments, and expects a reasonable return on their investment and effort.

To create this environment, the government and the public must work together. Progress, prosperity, and unity can only be achieved when the people and the government move in the same direction. The private sector has the capital to invest in India or abroad and has no shortage of projects to choose from. It is up to states and cities to decide if they want that investment. In many places, people and the government are working together to make it a reality. This model has worked well in most places through public-private partnerships. We have had some successes and some failures in the past, as reflected in the country's low per capita income. The Special Investment Zone under the Capital City Development Project has studied all past models and made improvements to create and maintain a model of inclusive growth in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, which can be replicated elsewhere. This is one of the reasons why the government is giving such high priority to this project, and the progress of this project is being directly monitored by the Chief Minister. However, the success of this project depends on the completion of the Vizhinjam port. No other port has received as much careful planning and extensive study as Vizhinjam. This is because the benefits of the port are not limited to the port itself, but extend to the entire state and beyond. This is why Vizhinjam is known as the Mother Port, not just because it supports other ports and ships, but because it also promotes the growth and development of other cities and regions in the country.

What seemed impossible yesterday, may now be possible

This is what is happening in Kerala and India today. In the early 1980s, India and China were in similar situations in many ways. However, China experienced a dramatic shift in its economic growth, political stability, and new economic model in the late 1970s, leading to its emergence as the world's second largest economy. Over the next few decades, China lifted more than 100 crore people out of poverty and into middle income status, provided world-class infrastructure, and developed world-class education and research institutions. Vizhinjam and the new capital region development project in Thiruvananthapuram have the potential to achieve similar success. However, we must not let this opportunity pass as we have in the past. We must choose to seize it.

Crucial for India

Why is Vizhinjam port so important to the whole country now? The British Indian Empire was not confined within the borders of present day India. It spread from Arabia to China. As a sea-faring nation, Britain was very careful and devoted much of its time and energy to creating the systems necessary to accumulate the services and facilities necessary to consolidate the empire; It also ensured the smooth movement of people, goods and services in the region.

The Colombo Deep Sea Port Transshipment Terminal was not only built for Sri Lanka. Rather, it was for the entire subcontinent and beyond—for India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Maldives, and beyond. Larger motherships dock at this deep-sea port and offload their cargo to smaller vessels that can dock at shallower ports throughout India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. They created modern oil terminals and oil refineries in the Gulf and Singapore; They did it to fuel the growth of the entire sector. To meet the transportation needs of the subcontinent, the British built Asia's largest rail network in undivided India. These centres and related systems (Hubs and Spokes) have been very beneficial to the entire sector. However, the emergence of new independent states in the region after the colonial period has created stagnation in seamless connectivity and economic integration of the region. We need a transshipment terminal of our own in India, which has a large population and a large economy. We need world class refineries and a modern railway network. While all these are happening, the role of Vizhinjam port is very crucial for the economy. That is why it is important that there should not be any further delay in this project.

Transformational project for the nation

As I mentioned earlier, the completion of the Vizhinjam Transshipment Port is not the end of this project; it is just the beginning of a long list of projects that are shaping the future of the country. These new and green projects, such as the Outer Ring Road, Satellite City, Industrial and Commercial Parks, Education and Health Villages, Tourism and Entertainment Hubs, and Innovation and Start-Up Zones, are not just for our children, but for the city of Thiruvananthapuram and all of Kerala in the future. They have the potential to transform our entire living conditions and keep our talented children here, with secure income and a good life, rather than seeking uncertain opportunities abroad. It is a mistake to think negatively about a project that has the potential to transform the entire country.

Our competitors stand to benefit from any delays in the project, and the public of India also suffers losses. Is it necessary to take to the streets to address minor issues that could be resolved around a table by our leaders? It is not right to bring minor issues related to the project onto the streets, especially when the project is making progress after initial setbacks caused by natural disasters like Okhi and a lack of granite for the sea wall.

Shouldn't we take advantage of favourable conditions to become a model of development, giving our talented and educated youth a better life than they have today? Don't our children deserve a better future? Or should our children be forced to migrate abroad in the hope of a better future, abandoning their elderly parents and their homes?

There is no doubt that fishermen who deal with the sea for their livelihood face problems. However, it is clear that the government is willing to address as many of these issues as possible. This is a government that is willing to listen to the problems of fishermen and address the injustices they have faced in the past. Now is the time for us to come together and work towards a better future for our youth. The port may be built on land ceded by others, but the real and pressing problems of fishermen struggling with the sea cannot be ignored. They are innocent and honest people who are easily swayed by their emotions. It is the duty of leaders to ensure that things do not get out of hand and to explain to them that problems should be resolved through negotiation.

Some people look for solutions to problems, while others try to find problems in solutions. It is up to us to decide which path to take. We may be able to get by with limited expectations and comforts, viewing things with distaste and apathy. But our children cannot live this way. They deserve a better future.

The article was originally written by T Balakrishnan in Malayalam. He is CEO of Capital City Region Development Project and former Additional Chief Secretary. The article was translated and published with his permission.

This article © 2023 by T Balakrishnan and Motherport News is licensed under CC BY 4.0