With the model code of conduct withdrawn after the local body elections, the Kerala government plans to inaugurate the second phase of the Vizhinjam International Seaport development in the second week of January.
Speaking to the media after a performance review of the Vizhinjam seaport here on Tuesday, Ports Minister VN Vasavan said the commencement of the second, third and fourth phases of construction, which would see an investment of ₹9,700 crore by port concessionaire Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt. Ltd. (AVPPL), will be held during the second week of January.
Besides, the access road to the port from National Highway-66 (NH-66) will also be inaugurated during the second week of January. This would facilitate the movement of cargo to and from the Vizhinjam International Seaport, which would facilitate the movement of trailers and heavy vehicles to and from the port. The state government is of the view that the proposed four-leaf clover junction at the NH-66 junction will help ease traffic on the route. Work to acquire land to connect the project to the existing rail network at Balaramapuram station through an underground tunnel is going on, the minister said.
Approximately 50 hectares will need to be acquired to build port-related infrastructure. The land will be used for the construction of a yard, security apparatus, customs and police auxiliary posts and the like.
Excursion tourism
The land will be made available by reclamation of the sea as part of the construction of the anchorage. The state also has plans to start cruise tourism based at Vizhinjam port and talks are underway to provide necessary infrastructural facilities for cruise tourism at the port. The land recovered from the sea will also be used for the purpose of excursion tourism, the minister said.
As part of the second stage development, the existing 800m berth will be increased by 1,200 meters to 2,000m, while the 2.96 kilometer long breakwater will also be increased by another 920m. Since commencement of commercial operations, the port has handled 13.25 lakh TEUs of cargo by facilitating berthing of 636 ships. The port also contributed around ₹ 97 crore to the state exchequer by way of tax. The port also became the first port in India to handle cargo by more than 40 ultra-large container ships of 399m in length during this period. So far, more than 155 ships of more than 300m in length and more than 45 ships with a draft of more than 16m have called at Vizhinjam, the minister said. At present, the port directly employs about 1,000 people and after the completion of the next phases, more than 6,000 people may be directly employed, the minister said.
On the occasion, the minister cut a cake and celebrated the first anniversary of Vizhinjam International Port, which started commercial operations on December 3, 2024.
Published – 16 Dec 2025 20:59 IST
