The Kerala government has proposed developing a cancer treatment centre at the site of the defunct Vilappilsala waste treatment plant in Thiruvananthapuram, repurposing the long-disputed site for healthcare infrastructure.

The city corporation is considering the development of an advanced cancer treatment hospital and research centre on its 50-acre property at Vilappilsala, the former site of a waste treatment plant. In connection with the proposal, the corporation has identified the unused land as a potentially suitable site for the project. The property has remained largely underutilised for several years following the abandonment of a housing project proposed by the previous corporation council.

The proposed facility is envisioned as a major cancer treatment and research centre equipped with advanced medical technologies. The project may be developed under a PPP model, although the specific implementation framework has not yet been finalised. Further progress will require approval from the corporation council, followed by discussions with the state government on the necessary clearances, approvals and other requirements for establishing the centre. If implemented, the project could provide Thiruvananthapuram with another major specialised cancer care facility alongside existing institutions such as the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC). With a dedicated research component, the proposed hospital could also strengthen the city’s capabilities in cancer treatment, research and related healthcare services. For the city corporation, the initiative would offer an opportunity to make productive use of the long-underutilised Vilappilsala property. The land, previously used for municipal waste treatment activities, could be redeveloped into a significant healthcare facility, subject to the necessary administrative and government approvals.