The Kerala Department of Ports has initiated the development of the proposed Malabar International Port at Azhikkal in Kannur district, issuing Expressions of Interest (EoI) for the construction, operation and maintenance of the project under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Once completed, the facility will become Kerala’s third international port, after Vizhinjam International Seaport and Cochin Port.
The EoI has been floated by Malabar International Port and SEZ Ltd (MIPS) on behalf of the Ports Department, inviting interested firms and consortia to participate in the development of both the deep-water port and an associated Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The project is expected to play a key role in strengthening maritime trade and industrial activity in northern Kerala.
According to project details, the proposed port site is located on the open coast south of the Valapattanam River, around seven kilometres from National Highway-66 and in close proximity to the Valapattanam railway station, providing strong multimodal connectivity by road, rail and sea.
The Malabar International Port is envisaged as a strategic infrastructure project to support cargo handling, logistics, and export-oriented industries, while easing congestion at existing ports and enhancing Kerala’s presence on key international shipping routes.