Vizhinjam , 24 ജനുവരി (H.S.)

Thiruvananthapuram: Marking a new milestone on the development map of Kerala, the second phase of development for the Vizhinjam International Seaport has commenced. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the construction work. During the ceremony, the Chief Minister stated that this project is a symbol of the government's determination to transform Kerala into a global hub for maritime trade. Union Minister for Ports, Sarbananda Sonowal, was the chief guest at the event, which was also attended by prominent leaders including Leader of the Opposition, V.D. Satheesan.

A Mega Project of ₹10,000 Crores

Development activities worth approximately ₹10,000 crores are envisioned in the second phase. The goal is to complete this stage by 2028. It is noteworthy that the construction work, which was originally scheduled to be completed by 2045 as per the initial contract, has been fast-tracked to 2028 on a war footing. Upon completion of the second phase, the annual capacity of Vizhinjam Port will increase to 57 lakh containers (TEUs). This will make Vizhinjam one of the largest ports in India.

Key Features of the Second Phase

The primary objective of this phase is the comprehensive expansion of the port. The following facilities will be established during the second phase:

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Railway Yard: A modern railway yard will be set up to ensure smooth cargo movement.

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Multi-Purpose Berth: Berths capable of handling various types of cargo will be constructed.

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Liquid Terminal and Tank Farm: Special systems will be prepared for the storage and transfer of liquid cargo such as oil and gas.

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Berth Expansion: The length of the existing berth will be increased to 2,000 meters. This will allow more than four massive Mother Ships to anchor at the port simultaneously.

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Breakwater Construction: The construction of the breakwater (Pulimuttu) will be completed over a distance of more than four kilometers.

An Economic Leap

Vizhinjam, which has functioned as a feeder port until now, will transform into a full-scale transshipment hub once the second phase is completed. The port will have the capacity to store up to one lakh containers at a time. Following the operational inauguration of the port by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 2, 2025, Kerala has moved swiftly toward the second phase.

Cargo movement via road will also become active during this stage. In his inaugural address, the Chief Minister added that the full commissioning of the Vizhinjam Port would bring significant changes to Kerala's economic sector and create thousands of job opportunities. Once Vizhinjam becomes fully operational, large ships arriving in India can offload cargo here without depending on foreign transshipment hubs, helping the country save a substantial amount of foreign exchange.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Roshith K