Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s flagship maritime project, the Vizhinjam International Seaport, took a major step forward on Saturday as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the second phase of construction, unlocking development works worth over ₹10,000 crore.
The launch ceremony was held at Vizhinjam at 4 PM, where the Chief Minister formally switched on the piling works, signalling the beginning of Phase II construction. Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal attended the event as the chief guest, underlining the national importance of the project.
Once Phase II is completed, Vizhinjam Port’s annual handling capacity will rise dramatically to 5.7 million containers, positioning it as a key global transshipment hub. The event also marked the inauguration of EXIM cargo services, enabling direct import and export operations, and a new port road connecting the harbour to the national highway bypass. The second phase is targeted for completion by 2028.
The expansion will increase the port’s capacity from 1.5 million TEUs to 5 million TEUs annually. The existing 800-metre container berth will be extended to 2,000 metres, making Vizhinjam home to India’s longest container berth. The breakwater will also be extended from 2.96 km to 3.88 km, further strengthening the port’s infrastructure.
Phase II development includes the construction of a railway yard, multi-purpose berth, liquid terminal, and tank farm. Notably, no additional land acquisition is required for the expansion, although about 50 hectares of sea area will be reclaimed.
Ministers V Sivankutty, V N Vasavan, K N Balagopal, Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan, and Karan Adani, Managing Director of Vizhinjam Port, were among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony, marking a significant milestone in Kerala’s journey towards becoming a global maritime powerhouse.
