Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 14 The Keralam government on Wednesday introduced a Bill in the Assembly to restructure the state maritime board, proposing a maritime land bank, an enforcement wing and changes to contracts for 17 port projects.
Presenting the Kerala Maritime Board (Amendment) Bill, 2026, Chief Minister V D Satheesan said the proposed changes were intended to give the board greater autonomy, expedite decision-making and facilitate the implementation of the government’s ‘Mission Samudra’ initiative to develop port cities in the state.
Under the proposed legislation, the chief minister will be the chairperson of the board and the ports minister its vice-chairperson.
Satheesan said the existing law required the board to obtain government approval for its decisions, resulting in delays in decision-making and the effective utilisation of capital.
The Bill seeks to clearly define the board’s duties and powers and strengthen its institutional framework to facilitate the timely implementation of port development projects.
The CM said the draft was prepared after examining various central laws, amendments and models followed in other countries to ensure that the board could take decisions and grant approvals without undue delay.
He said the government expected tangible results from its ambitious port-city development initiative within six months. A time-bound schedule will be prepared to enable construction activities linked to the projects to commence at intervals of two weeks, he added.
Several project proposals had already been received from both the government and the private sector, the chief minister said.
Assuring the House that the maritime development will not come at the cost of the environment or coastal communities, Satheesan said the government will not displace coastal residents or undertake activities such as land reclamation for the projects.
Replying to questions from legislators, he said the government will consider providing reservation for children from coastal communities in new academic programmes proposed under Mission Samudra and in employment opportunities expected in the sector.
The CM also clarified that combating drug trafficking through the sea did not fall within the maritime board’s remit. The board will not undertake activities that overlap with the powers and responsibilities of other agencies, he said
A key provision is the establishment of a state maritime land bank, using government-owned land for the development of non-major ports and maritime industries. A port development authority will be constituted for each port to ensure planned development, rather than projects being spread across fragmented land parcels, Satheesan said.
The Bill also proposes amendments to provisions governing the extension of contract periods for 17 public-private partnership (PPP) projects, allowing extensions subject to specified conditions.
Another major provision is the creation of a dedicated fund for inland water transport and an enforcement wing comprising the board’s officials to inspect inland vessels. The board will be designated as the competent authority under the Inland Vessels Act, 2021.
The proposed amendments detail the Board’s responsibilities, including the development of non-major ports, coastal protection, creation of port infrastructure, dredging, vessel licensing, environmental protection and the discharge of responsibilities under the Inland Vessels legislation.
The Bill also provides for the appointment of only senior officers from the Indian Administrative Service or other All India Services as the Board’s Chief Executive Officer.
It further proposes empowering the Board to purchase and sell shares in port development companies and public sector undertakings registered under the Companies Act, subject to prior government approval. Provisions relating to internal and external audits will also be clarified, it said.
(PTI News)
