Kerala State Harbour Engineering Department

We spend most of our time down here in Chirayinkeezhu, specifically at the Thulavilaveedu office. It is a bit of a quiet spot in Thiruvananthapuram, but the work we do keeps us on our toes most days. The department focuses on the technical side of the harbours and coastal areas around Kerala. It is not just sitting at a desk; there is a lot of looking at plans and dealing with the physical realities of the coastline. The office at Koonthalloor feels like a second home to many of us because we have been here so long. You see the same faces every morning, and we just get on with the tasks at hand. Some days are slow when the weather is bad, but usually, there is some project or another needing attention. It is practical work, nothing too fancy or flashy. We deal with the engineering problems that come up when you are working so close to the sea. The 695304 pin code area is where everything happens for us. People think engineering is all clean lines, but here it is often about mud, water, and fixing things that the salt air tries to ruin. It is just what we do day in and day out. We don’t really talk about it in big terms, we just make sure the structures are there and doing what they are supposed to do for the people who use the water.