New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. The seaport was completed at an estimated cost of Rs 8,867 crore. The Prime Minister formally commissioned the first phase of the facility in the presence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and Thiruvananthapuram Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.
The port has been developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd., India’s largest port developer and part of the Adani Group, in collaboration with the government under a public-private partnership model. Pinarayi Vijayan, CM of Kerala welcomed the Prime Minister Modi for the commissioning of Vizhinjam Port. The CM thanked all those who contributed to building of the port and expressed j
Pinarayi Vijayan, CM of Kerala welcomed the Prime Minister Modi for the commissioning of Vizhinjam Port. The CM thanked all those who contributed to building of the port and expressed joy in the feeling of unity that was felt in construction of the port.
The port is a symbol of ‘New Age Development…and I congratulate the people of Kerala and India’, the PM said. The PM further added that the hub’s capacity will increase threefold in the times to come, large container ships from across the world will come here, and the revenue loss which India faced due to the unavailability of such large ports will soon go away. “Now the revenue will come to India and that will bring economic opportunities for the people of Kerala and Vizhinjam”, he added.
The Vizhinjam Port is set to become one of the most technologically advanced transshipment ports worldwide and operations on port are expected to significantly reduce vessel turnaround times and enhance India’s capacity to handle large container ships. The project, which cost approximately Rs 8,900 crore, received its commercial go-ahead in December last year following a successful trial phase.
The Vizhinjam Port boasts cutting-edge infrastructure, including a 3,000-meter breakwater, which is the deepest and longest in India, ensuring the safety and shelter of ships. Similar to how a house relies on strong walls and a roof for protection, the breakwater acts as a defensive barrier against waves, safeguarding the port.
Additionally, the port is equipped with advanced STS Super Post-Panamax cranes, which function like giant robotic arms to efficiently lift containers from ships. This combination of a robust breakwater and powerful cranes makes Vizhinjam a secure and efficient location for ships to dock and unload their cargo. The port has a natural depth of 20 meters. This means large ships can easily sail in without needing extra work (like dredging) to make the water deeper. So, Vizhinjam can handle big container ships without any trouble.