With the model code of conduct withdrawn after the local body elections, the Kerala government is planning to hold the inauguration of the second phase development of the Vizhinjam International Seaport in the second week of January.
Speaking to the media after a review of the performance of the Vizhinjam seaport here on Tuesday, Port Minister V.N. Vasavan said the inauguration of the second, third and fourth phases of construction, which would see an investment of ₹9,700 crore by the port concessionaire Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt. Ltd. (AVPPL), would be held during the second week of January.
Additionally, the approach road to the port from National Highway-66 (NH-66) will also be inaugurated during the second week of January. This would facilitate the gateway cargo movements to and from Vizhinjam International Seaport, facilitating the movements of trailers and heavy vehicles to and from the port. The State government is of the view that the proposed cloverleaf interchange at the NH-66 junction will be helpful in easing the traffic along the route. The work on acquiring land for linking the project with the existing rail network at Balaramapuram railway station through an underground tunnel is progressing, said the Minister.
Around 50 hectares will have to be acquired to set up port-related infrastructure facilities. The land will be used for the development of a yard, security apparatus, customs and police aid posts and so on.
Cruise tourism
Land will be made available by reclaiming the sea as part of berth construction. The State also has plans to start cruise tourism based at the Vizhinjam port, and discussions are under way to arrange necessary infrastructure facilities for cruise tourism in the port. The land reclaimed from the sea would also be used for cruise tourism purposes, said the Minister.
As part of the second phase development, the existing 800-m berth will be increased by 1,200 meters to 2,000 m, while the 2.96-kilometre breakwater will also be increased by another 920 m. Since the launch of the commercial operations, the port has handled 13.25 lakh TEUs of cargo by facilitating the berthing of 636 ships. The port also contributed around ₹97 crore to the exchequer by way of tax. The port has also become the first port in India to handle cargo with more than 40 ultra-large container ships with a length of 399 m during this period. More than 155 ships with a length of more than 300 m and over 45 ships with drafts of more than 16 m called at Vizhinjam so far, said the Minister. Currently, the port provides direct employment to about 1,000 people, and when the next phases are completed, more than 6,000 people can be directly employed, said the Minister.
The Minister cut a cake on the occasion, celebrating the first anniversary of Vizhinjam International Port, which began commercial operations on December 3, 2024.
Published – December 16, 2025 08:59 pm IST
