Maritime heritage on the brink: Kerala’s Valiyathura Pier is fading away; here's why

Built in 1956, Valiyathura Pier was used by local fishermen for venturing into the sea during the monsoon season. (Photo credit: @maheenthajudeen/Twitter)

The worsening condition of Valiyathura Pier, the testament to the maritime heritage of Thiruvananthapuram, is now in public focus after Kerala State Maritime Board (KSMB) ruled out any restoration efforts, citing exorbitant cost and lack of functional relevance, The New Indian Express reported.

The pier, which split into two sections last year, will not be revived, a KSMB official confirmed. As per the report, the historic structure, battered by years of neglect, sea erosion, and repeated cyclone assault, has further deteriorated after the onset of the southwest monsoon in the state.

Built in 1956, Valiyathura Pier was used by local fishermen for venturing into the sea during the monsoon season. It was also a major tourist landmark.

An official pointed out that it is not economically viable to restore or renovate the structure. “There is no point in spending Rs 25 crore on a structure that offers no real benefit, especially to local fishermen. Neither the fisheries department nor the harbour engineering department has proposed any restoration plan to use the pier for fishing purposes. Hence, we have no plans to restore the pier,” the official was quoted by TINE as saying.

Meanwhile, an IIT Chennai report had suggested a renovation plan to reduce wave activity and protect the pier. “The government is not very keen on investing so much. We initially had plans to restore the pier using central funds. But we decided not to pursue that plan,” the official added.

Despite shelving the restoration project, the Maritime Board is actively exploring new avenues for 4.5 acres of land attached to the pier. “The property adjacent to the pier, which includes a couple of British-era warehouses, will be developed. We will be inviting Expression of Interest soon. The warehouses have historical value, and we’re open to concepts for developing them. Once we receive the proposals, we will refine our plan and move forward with a public-private partnership (PPP) model,” the official was quoted.

As per the report, the project is awaiting approval from the state government. “We have requested the government to call for a stakeholder meeting ahead of inviting the EoI. The local community is very active in the area and they all should be convinced about the project so that there will not be any issues when the project is launched,” the official added.