In a significant move to modernize meat processing and enhance public health standards, the Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation has forged a strategic partnership with the Adani Group. The collaboration, falling under the conglomerate's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, is designed to streamline livestock logistics and fortify the efficiency of the capital's meat supply chain.
Modernizing the Meat Supply Chain
The core of this partnership involves the Adani Group donating two specialised vehicles to the civic body. These vehicles will be tasked with transporting large animals from local meat traders to the city's new, state-of-the-art slaughterhouse located in Kunnukuzhy. This support is critical to overcoming long-standing logistical hurdles that have delayed the full transition from numerous informal and scattered slaughter sites across the city to a centralized, regulated facility.
Corporation officials confirmed that the collaboration is expected to commence in January 2026, aligning with the anticipated full operational launch of the abattoir. The facility itself represents a cornerstone in the city's public health and sanitation overhaul, aimed at shutting down illegal slaughterhouses.
The Kunnukuzhy Abattoir: A Rs 15 Crore Facility
The modern slaughterhouse at Kunnukuzhy has been described by civic authorities as one of the most sophisticated meat processing units in Kerala. Developed over several years with an estimated investment of around Rs 10-15 crore and technical support from the Kerala Electrical and Allied Engineering Company Ltd, it was inaugurated earlier this year.
However, it has not yet operated at full capacity due to pending approvals and necessary trial runs. The current contractor, MR Farms, is conducting a month-long trial in coordination with the corporation. Following this assessment, the facility must obtain final clearance from the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) before full commissioning.
Corporation Secretary Jahamgeer S expressed optimism about a mid-January launch. "A round of discussions has been completed with Adani Group and they have agreed to provide two vehicles. Our vendor has also established a chilling unit there. The trial run was successful. So we are waiting for a final clearance from the pollution control board," he stated.
Features, Fees, and Trader Concerns
Once fully functional, the abattoir will boast modern infrastructure including effluent treatment plants, biogas units, chilling rooms, and odour control systems. It will have the capacity to process 50-75 large animals and up to 50 small animals daily. This facility is the first of its kind in the state capital, intended to replace the unregulated slaughter practices that proliferated after an older corporation-owned slaughterhouse was closed in 2012 due to environmental violations.
To encourage adoption, the corporation has held stakeholder meetings with local butchers and meat traders, urging them to use the new system and the dedicated transport. The civic body has set a slaughtering fee of Rs 1,500 for large animals and Rs 300 for small animals.
Despite these efforts, some meat traders have voiced concerns. They warn that the combination of slaughter fees and additional transport charges could increase retail meat prices. The corporation acknowledges these economic realities for small business owners and reports that discussions are ongoing to address these concerns while balancing the overarching public health goals.
