Kerala clears five-acre Veli site for CWC warehousing as Vizhinjam handles first imports

The Kerala government has cleared the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) to begin warehouse operations on land belonging to Travancore Titanium Products Limited (TTPL) at Veli in Thiruvananthapuram. The approval, reported on 4 November, gives CWC an initial site to serve the district as Vizhinjam International Seaport begins handling cargo for local importers and exporters. State officials had identified five acres of TTPL land for lease to the corporation.

The Veli site addresses an immediate constraint for the port’s customers. In an October reply to the Kerala Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister V D Satheesan said limited warehouse space around Vizhinjam and high land prices had contributed to higher storage rents in Thiruvananthapuram district. The state had identified about 930 acres for logistics infrastructure, with acquisition proceedings under way for around 230 acres.

While CWC prepares to use TTPL’s land at Veli, Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL) has been examining a separate site for the corporation’s proposed multimodal logistics park. In October, VISL identified a 20-acre parcel near Amaravila, south of Udiyankulangara, after residents raised concerns about displacement at an earlier location. Proximity to the railway line and a lower population density made the alternative site a candidate for the park.

Rail access matters for the larger facility, which is intended to combine storage with the handling and onward movement of port cargo. Kerala gave the park in-principle approval in February 2026 and authorised VISL to negotiate a long-term lease. Under the proposed arrangement, VISL would acquire and lease the land, while CWC would develop the infrastructure and secure the necessary approvals.

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