T’puram: The Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) will begin warehouse operations in the capital by leasing 5.03 acres owned by Travancore Titanium Products Ltd (TTPL) for 60 years to boost the port-led logistics ecosystem around Vizhinjam International Seaport. The central public sector undertaking will initially operate on the leased land before setting up a larger logistics facility on a 20-acre parcel at Amaravila, where the state govt is expediting land acquisition.The state govt has approved the lease for an upfront premium of Rs 45 crore. The proposal was cleared after considering the approval of the TTPL board of directors and the recommendation of the Board for Public Sector Transformation (BPT). An order in this regard was issued by govt last week.The initial facility on TTPL land is expected to help CWC establish its presence in the capital and commence warehousing and cargo-handling activities without waiting for the acquisition and development of the larger site at Amaravila. The proposed facility will strengthen cargo storage, handling and distribution capabilities in the region, particularly as Vizhinjam expands its operations.CWC’s larger investment commitment is part of the Rs 2,000-crore logistics master plan being implemented by Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL) in association with three central public sector undertakings. Under the plan, CWC has committed an investment of around Rs 700 crore to develop a multimodal logistics park with warehouses, cold-storage facilities and export-related infrastructure.The previous govt signed memorandums of understanding with CWC, Container Corporation of India (Concor) and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) on Feb 23, 2026, in the presence of then CM Pinarayi Vijayan. While CWC will focus on warehousing and logistics infrastructure, Concor will develop container depots and cargo-handling facilities, and IOC will establish bunkering infrastructure to supply fuel to vessels calling at Vizhinjam.CWC had earlier sought up to 20 acres at Amaravila, near the existing railway line, for developing an integrated logistics facility. The proposed location is expected to provide an advantage in connecting port-related cargo movements with the rail network, besides facilitating the storage and distribution of goods.The logistics park is expected to include modern warehouses, cold-chain facilities and export-linked units, strengthening the region’s capacity to handle both domestic and international cargo. The investment is also expected to attract logistics operators, exporters and other businesses to the port’s hinterland.With Vizhinjam’s cargo-handling capacity expected to increase substantially through ongoing expansion, the development of supporting infrastructure has become crucial. The port’s annual capacity is expected to rise to 5.7 million TEUs by Dec 2028, including the development of two multipurpose berths.The CWC project is among the major public-sector investments aimed at ensuring that the growth of Vizhinjam translates into wider economic activity beyond port operations.
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