Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will officially inaugurate the Vizhinjam International Seaport on May 2, 2025, at 11:00 AM, marking the commissioning of India’s first deep-sea transshipment terminal. Located near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, this ambitious project is poised to revolutionize the country’s maritime infrastructure and boost global trade connectivity.
Operational since December 2024, after successful trial runs from July, the port has already demonstrated its efficiency by handling 263 ships and processing over 536,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) of cargo. With over 100,000 TEUs moved monthly in February and March 2025 alone, Vizhinjam has quickly emerged as a key hub on India’s southern and western coasts.
Strategically situated just 10 nautical miles from the critical East-West international shipping route, the port benefits from naturally deep waters, allowing it to host the world’s largest container vessels without the need for continuous dredging—a significant operational advantage.
The inauguration follows a breakthrough agreement between the central and state governments regarding the Viability Gap Fund (VGF). Signed on April 9, 2025, the pact includes a Union government contribution of ₹817.80 crore to the port’s developer, Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited (AVPPL), while the Kerala government has agreed to share 20% of the port’s revenue with the Centre.
Future expansion plans are already in motion, with phases two and three set for completion by December 2028. These developments, backed by an estimated ₹9,600 crore investment, will increase the port’s capacity to handle 4.5 million TEUs annually. Connectivity upgrades—including a 1.7 km road to NH 66 and a dedicated rail tunnel by Konkan Railways—are also underway.
The grand commissioning ceremony will be attended by Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and other dignitaries. The Vizhinjam Seaport stands as a bold step forward in India’s maritime ambitions and a gateway to enhanced global trade.
