Vizhinjam International Seaport, dedicated to the nation in early May, is gearing up for its second phase of development, scheduled to begin next month. The ₹10,000-crore expansion, to be fully financed by Adani Ports & SEZ Ltd (APSEZ), aims to increase the port’s container handling capacity to 4.5 million TEUs annually by 2028.
The upcoming works will extend the container berth from the current 800 metres to 2,000 metres, enabling the port to berth three container mother ships and multiple feeder vessels simultaneously. Phase 2 will also add a break-bulk berth, a tanker berth, and a bunkering facility along an extended 4-km breakwater.
Since commencing commercial operations in December 2024, Vizhinjam has handled nearly one million TEUs — all transshipment cargo, with 60% international and 40% Indian volumes. No exim cargo has yet been handled, but port authorities expect this to grow to 20% once inland connectivity projects, including an exclusive rail line to Balaramapuram and a new link to NH 66, are completed by 2028.
Vizhinjam’s strategic location on the East–West shipping route and its natural 20-metre draft have attracted some of the world’s largest vessels, including 400-metre-long container ships with capacities of 24,000 TEUs. The port also plans to establish an international crew change facility, which could boost the local economy by attracting global shipping traffic for crew rotations.
Phase 1 of the project, costing just under ₹9,000 crore, was funded jointly by the Kerala and Union governments, with viability gap support. APSEZ holds a 40-year concession to build, operate, and transfer the port, with an option to extend for 20 more years.
Vizhinjam has positioned itself as a high-tech, automated terminal, featuring eight remotely operated quay cranes, 20 fully automated cantilever rail-mounted gantry cranes, and an advanced ABB automation system. A digital twin setup, integrated with IoT and AI-based radar systems, enables real-time monitoring and management of ship movements and container handling.
During its inauguration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the port’s potential to curb India’s dependence on foreign ports for transshipment — currently 75% — and reduce logistics costs for exporters by up to 40%, thereby boosting India’s trade competitiveness.
