Thiruvananthapuram, Sept. 17 -- Kerala government has proposed setting up an International Maritime Museum and Oceanarium as a single integrated institution, backed by Rs 50 crore in seed funding, to showcase the State's nearly 2,000-year maritime heritage and rich marine biodiversity.

The proposal envisages a unified governance and operating structure for the two facilities, with the Oceanarium's revenue-generating potential supporting the Museum's heritage and curatorial functions and reducing the need for continued government funding for separate institutions.

The proposal was discussed at a three-day Round Table Conference on flagship developmental and transformational projects that began here on Wednesday. The session on the Internat...