Since launching commercial operations in December 2024, Vizhinjam port has handled 5.36 lakh TEUs from 263 vessels, surpassing half its annual capacity and leading cargo movement across India’s southern and western coasts
Published Apr 17, 2025 | 10:23 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 17, 2025 | 10:23 PM
Vizhinjam international seaport
Synopsis: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram on 2 May, marking a key moment in India’s maritime growth. Developed by Adani Ports, Vizhinjam is India’s first semi-automated deepwater transshipment terminal, strategically positioned on major global shipping lanes. With a 20-meter natural depth, it’s set to compete with leading regional ports like Colombo and Singapore.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to officially inaugurate the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram at 11 a.m. on 2 May, marking a major milestone in India’s maritime infrastructure.
The confirmation came from the Prime Minister’s Office and was announced by Kerala Ports Minister VN Vasavan on Thursday, 17 April.
Developed by Adani Ports, Vizhinjam is India’s first semi-automated deepwater transshipment terminal and has quickly emerged as a strategic asset for the nation.
With a natural depth of 20 meters and strategic positioning on key international shipping lanes, Vizhinjam is poised to rival regional ports like Colombo, Singapore, and Dubai.
Since commercial operations began in December 2024, the port has handled over 5.36 lakh TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) from 263 vessels — already surpassing half of its projected annual capacity.
In February and March 2025 alone, Vizhinjam led cargo movements among ports on India’s southern and western coasts. Notably, it achieved the milestone of handling 1 lakh TEUs in a single month.
Among its early achievements, the port successfully berthed MSC Turkiye, one of the largest container ships to ever dock in India. It also launched MSC’s weekly Jade Service, connecting Vizhinjam to Europe.
Minister Vasavan emphasised that all formalities for the port’s first phase have been finalized, following the signing of the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) agreement.
This development comes after years of delays due to arbitration disputes, which have now been resolved under renegotiated terms favourable to the Kerala government.
As a result, the state will begin receiving revenue from the port as early as 2034, a significant improvement from the earlier projections.
Once all four phases are completed by 2028, Vizhinjam is expected to boast an annual installed capacity of 30 lakh TEUs. Adani Ports is investing approximately ₹10,000 crore in the port’s expansion, positioning Vizhinjam as a key driver of India’s maritime economy.
To complement the port’s growth, the Kerala government is fast-tracking major infrastructure projects, including the Outer Area Growth Corridor, the Vizhinjam-Kollam-Punalur Growth Triangle, and the Outer Ring Road connecting Vizhinjam to Navaikulam in collaboration with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
The Outer Ring Road is expected to transform Thiruvananthapuram into an industrial and commercial hub, with development planned on either side of the 2.5 km corridor.
Minister Vasavan also noted that efforts are underway to redirect cargo movement from other Indian ports to Vizhinjam, establishing it as a centralized gateway for maritime trade and a catalyst for Kerala’s transformation into a logistics and industrial powerhouse.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
