Thiruvananthapuram, April 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Vizhinjam International Seaport near Thiruvananthapuram on May 2, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced on Thursday.
Describing it as India’s first semi-automated trans-shipment port, Vijayan said the project positions Kerala on the global maritime trade map, having already handled 265 ships and 5.48 lakh TEUs since its commercial launch.
Developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with Adani Ports SEZ, the deep-water port sits close to international shipping lanes, reducing transit time and enabling it to handle large container vessels efficiently.
In July 2024, Union Ports and Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal welcomed the port’s first mother ship, MV San Fernando, calling Vizhinjam a “Make in India” success story.
Built at a cost exceeding Rs 18,000 crore, Vizhinjam is the first greenfield port project initiated by a state government. It is expected to spur economic activity in Kerala through trade, employment, and investment.
The port is also seen as a strategic node in regional trade, linking Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
The Adani Group, which operates the port, manages 15 other ports across India and international terminals in Israel, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania.
