Vizhinjam Port Second Phase Construction to Begin; Chief Minister to inaugurate on November 5

Thiruvananthapuram: The second phase construction of the Vizhinjam International Port in Kerala will commence on November 5, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurating the project. Phases two to four will be implemented together and are expected to be completed by December 2028.

The Adani Ports will invest approximately 10,000 to 15,000 crores for this construction. In this phase, the state government will not need to directly invest any funds. This will become the largest investment in the state under a PPP (Public-Private Partnership) project. Upon completion, it is expected to significantly boost Kerala’s economy.

The second phase includes the construction of a 1,200-meter berth and installation of cranes, a one-kilometre approach channel, development of container yard and basic infrastructure, construction of a 660-meter multipurpose berth, construction of 250-meter liquid berths (adjacent to the approach channel), expansion of liquid cargo storage facilities, and creation of 77.17 hectares of reclaimed land.

Once completed, the port’s handling capacity will reach 4 million containers per year, making Vizhinjam the port with the highest handling capacity in South India. The first phase had a comparatively lower capacity of 1 million containers.

Since the port began operations on July 11, 2024, 525 ships have arrived as of Saturday, handling 1.15 million containers. The port has already attracted international attention as a facility capable of easily accommodating large mother vessels. It is the only port in India where Mediterranean Shipping Company’s European and African services call.

By the time the second phase is completed, rail connectivity for cargo movement will also be in place. Facilities for road-based cargo transport will be ready soon. The development of the gateway cargo system is in its final stages.