The second phase of the Vizhinjam International Port in Kerala will begin on November 5, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurating the project. In a major push to accelerate development, phases two to four will be implemented together and are expected to be completed by December 2028. Adani Ports will invest approximately ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 crore in this construction, making it the largest PPP investment in the state’s history. Notably, the state government will not need to invest any funds during this phase, and the project is expected to boost Kerala’s economy significantly.
The second phase involves the construction of a 1,200-metre berth equipped with cranes, a one-kilometre approach channel, development of the container yard and basic infrastructure, construction of a 660-metre multipurpose berth, and 250-metre liquid berths adjacent to the approach channel. It will also include the expansion of liquid cargo storage facilities and the creation of 77.17 hectares of reclaimed land. Once this phase is completed, the port’s annual handling capacity will increase to 4 million containers, making Vizhinjam the port with the highest handling capacity in South India. This marks a major leap from the first phase, which had a comparatively lower capacity of 1 million containers.
Since the port began operations on July 11, 2024, it has already received 525 ships and handled 1.15 million containers as of Saturday. Vizhinjam has attracted international attention for its ability to accommodate large mother vessels easily and is currently the only port in India where Mediterranean Shipping Company’s European and African services call. By the time the second phase is complete, rail connectivity for cargo movement will also be in place, while facilities for road-based cargo transport will be ready soon. The development of the gateway cargo system is in its final stages, positioning Vizhinjam to become a major transshipment and logistics hub in the region.
