Harbour of hope: Vizhinjam Port Empowers Local Youth

Thiruvananthapuram: “Who wouldn't want a good job in their hometown?” says Rahul, a young man from the fishermen community, as he walks out of the Vizhinjam International Seaport in uniform and helmet. He is part of a growing number of locals—35 per cent of the port’s workforce—who now have stable jobs in a place once marked by unrest.
Just a few years ago, Vizhinjam was known not for progress but for protests. Strong opposition from the local fishing community, backed by the Church, brought life in the village to a halt. Residents feared the port would destroy their livelihood and displace families. For over four months, demonstrations dominated the region until talks with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan led to a breakthrough. The state promised development, jobs for locals, and the withdrawal of police cases against protesters.
That turning point is now bearing fruit. The deep-water port, developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) under a public-private partnership, is creating new career paths for the coastal youth. A Community Skill Park was launched under the Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP) to prepare local residents for port-related jobs. Many young people, previously limited to fishing, are now being trained and employed in roles they had never imagined.
Among the standout achievements is the recruitment of nine local women as crane operators—a first in India’s port history. These women, trained at the Vizhinjam skill centre, now handle massive Cantilever Rail Mounted Gantry cranes, unloading cargo from international vessels. In addition, trained intermodal truck drivers from the community are also joining the workforce, with 150 more locals currently undergoing training.
Roshin, another local youth working at the port, calls it “a game changer.” He says, “Earlier, fishing was the only option. Now we have a new future ahead of us.”
Private companies operating at the port are also prioritising local hiring. Manoj Nair, Managing Director of a mooring company, says they’ve already hired 24 local workers and will bring in more as operations expand. “This port will change not just Vizhinjam but all of Kerala,” he adds.
The port was officially commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2025, at a cost of Rs 8,867 crore. It has quickly risen to prominence, handling over 100,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) per month—leading container traffic on India’s southern and western coasts. Its global relevance was confirmed when MSC Turkey, one of the world’s largest cargo ships, docked at Vizhinjam.
By 2028, the port is expected to complete its next phase of construction, expanding its capacity to 3 million TEUs annually. The Rs 10,000 crore needed for this expansion will be fully funded by Adani Ports. From resistance to resurgence, Vizhinjam is undergoing a remarkable transformation—one that offers new hope, especially to its youth.

(With Inputs from PTI)