Kozhikode will be developed as a port city under Kerala’s Mission Samudra project, while the proposed Light Metro in the city will be taken forward once the ongoing studies are completed, Chief Minister V D Satheesan said.
Speaking at the ‘Future Calicut 360’ development conclave, Satheesan said steps have already been initiated to develop all ports in the northern district. Port development, he said, would be integrated with the wider development of Kozhikode.
Logistics facilities, a container facilitation centre and transshipment facilities are among the employment-generating projects planned alongside the ports. A cruise terminal is also proposed for Kozhikode, subject to the availability of suitable land.
The studies for the Kozhikode Light Metro, which was announced in the first state budget of the government, are currently underway. The project will be implemented without delay after the studies are completed, the Chief Minister said.
Kozhikode airport is also expected to play an important role in the aviation hub network planned around Kerala’s four international airports. A new system will be introduced to improve connectivity between Kozhikode city and the airport, along with other airport-related development projects.
The state government is also planning a cultural park in Kozhikode in the name of renowned Malayalam writer M T Vasudevan Nair. The project is proposed as an international-standard tourism destination and will include theatres, art galleries, venues for traditional art forms and five-star hotels. The site will also showcase the heritage of the city. Land for the project has already been identified, and work is expected to begin within three months.
A Cyberpark is planned for Kozhikode, with the proposed facility intended to compete with Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram and Infopark in Ernakulam. The city will also be considered for the proposed Knowledge Valley project, which envisages bringing campuses of leading universities from around the world, provided suitable land is available.
Development of bridges, including the Mankavu bridge, will be given priority. The government will also use technical assistance from the National Institute of Technology, Kozhikode, for development projects in the city.