Reimagining Keralam: Sept 16-18 Round-Table Conferences To Fast-Track Govt’s Flagship Projects

Thiruvananthapuram, Sept. 14: “Reimagining Keralam,” a set of Round Table Conferences (RTCs) to put on implementation pathway the flagship developmental and transformational projects proposed by the State Government in the 2026-27 budget, will be held here from September 16 to 18.

The RTCs will bring together ministers, top bureaucrats, domain experts and stakeholders from multiple sectors to give concrete shape to the project proposals, turning them ready to implement.

“This novel initiative is conceived as a government-led institutional mechanism to provide a structured platform for consultation, assessment and decision-making on major programmes announced in the 2026–27 State Budget,” said Chief Minister Shri V.D. Satheesan while releasing the logo of ‘Reimagining Keralam’ at his chamber today.

“Reimagining Keralam reflects the collective thinking leading to collective action. It brings diverse perspectives together around the government's vision of transforming ideas into projects and projects into action,” the Chief Minister added.

Shri Bishwanath Sinha, Chief Secretary; Shri APM Mohammed Haneesh, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries Department; and Shri NSK Umesh, Additional Secretary and Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Chief Minister were also present.

The Chief Minister will inaugurate the RTCs at Lemon Tree Premier Thiruvananthapuram on September 16 at 9.30 am. Shri P. K. Kunhalikutty, Minister for Industries, Commerce, Information Technology, and Artificial Intelligence, will deliver the keynote address.

The RTCs will be held at two venues in the state capital: Lemon Tree Premier, Thiruvananthapuram and Hilton Garden Inn Trivandrum. The deliberations will focus on translating policy announcements into clearly defined implementation pathways by establishing the vision, scope, ownership, institutional arrangements, resource requirements and implementation strategy for each programme.

The RTCs will bring together representatives of government departments and agencies, regulatory authorities, knowledge institutions, industry, funding agencies and other stakeholders.

Discussions will cover major programmes across infrastructure and connectivity, maritime and port-led development, aviation, industrial and economic corridors, energy and renewable resources, critical minerals, urban development, knowledge and higher education, health and life sciences, space, AI and the digital economy, tourism and the creative economy.

The RTCs are intended to establish a common government-approved framework, enabling various departments to proceed with feasibility studies, master plans, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) or consultancy engagements.

Bringing stakeholders together at the scoping stage will help avoid duplication of studies, identify opportunities for convergence and ensure that technical and consultancy requirements are aligned with the Government’s vision for each project.

A key take-away of the initiative will be a Draft Project Scope Document for each programme.

Following the conference, the proceedings and Draft Project Scope Documents will be circulated to the respective nodal departments for finalising the documents for approval by the Minister concerned and the Council of Ministers.

Once approved, the Project Scope Document will serve as the basis for preparing Terms of References (ToRs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), appointing consultants where required, and undertaking feasibility studies, DPR preparation and other project-development activities.

A consolidated monitoring mechanism will track key milestones across the project portfolio. The Programme Committee will report the portfolio position periodically to the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary.