A major coastal protection project has commenced at Pozhiyoor in Thiruvananthapuram district, marking a significant step towards addressing years of coastal erosion and sea attacks along the Pozhiyoor–Kollankode coastline. The construction work was inaugurated on September 22–23, 2026, with the project aimed at protecting coastal communities, homes, roads and other infrastructure in the region.

The ₹93.22-crore project, funded through the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), will protect approximately 1,700 metres of coastline. The Kerala Irrigation Infrastructure Development Corporation (KIIDC) will implement the project. The detailed project plan was prepared based on a study by IIT Madras.

The protection system will include a tetrapod sea wall and 11 groynes, designed as an integrated coastal protection system. A 4.5-metre-wide concrete walkway is also planned along the top of the seawall, providing a pedestrian facility while forming part of the coastal protection structure.

The Pozhiyoor–Kollankode coastal stretch has experienced repeated episodes of severe sea erosion, affecting houses, roads, public infrastructure and the livelihoods of fishing communities. According to reports, 128 houses have already been destroyed by sea attacks, while thousands of families in the coastal belt continue to face erosion-related risks.

The project is also expected to support the development of Pozhiyoor Fishing Harbour and could contribute to improved infrastructure along this southern coastal belt. Officials have indicated that coastal protection measures could be extended to neighbouring areas in subsequent phases.

Tourism significance

Pozhiyoor lies close to the Poovar tourism region, known for its beaches, backwaters, estuary and boating experiences. While the primary objective of the project is coastal safety and protection of local communities, improved shoreline infrastructure could also support the long-term development of the wider Poovar–Pozhiyoor coastal tourism corridor.

The planned walkway may additionally provide a new public waterfront facility, although its tourism potential will depend on how the completed infrastructure is integrated with local access, environmental protection and tourism development.

With coastal erosion posing an increasing challenge to many destinations along Kerala's shoreline, the Pozhiyoor project represents an important example of coastal protection infrastructure being combined with long-term community and tourism-area development.