NewKerala.com

Kerala CM Hails Vizhinjam Port: From 'Nothing Happens' to World's Largest Ships

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the Phase 2 expansion of the Vizhinjam International Seaport, declaring it the state's economic backbone. He announced the entire project is set for completion by 2028, a remarkable 17 years ahead of the original schedule. Adani Ports' MD Karan Adani committed a total investment of Rs 30,000 crore, aiming to scale the port's capacity to 5.7 million TEUs by 2029. The inauguration sparked a political credit war between Congress and CPI(M) over the port's conception.

Key Points: Vizhinjam Port Expansion Inaugurated, 17 Years Ahead of Schedule

  • Port expansion 17 years ahead of schedule
  • Rs 30,000 crore total Adani investment
  • To become integrated international hub
  • Handles world's largest container ships
2 min read

"From land where nothing happens to hosting world's largest ships...": Kerala CM hails expansion of Vizhinjam Port

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurates Phase 2 of Vizhinjam Port, set for 2028 completion. A Rs 30,000 crore Adani project transforming Kerala's economy.

"From being 'the land where nothing happens' to hosting the world's largest mother ships, we've proved the critics wrong. - Pinarayi Vijayan"

Thiruvanathapuram, January 24

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said that the state has moved from being "the land where nothing happens to hosting the world's largest mother ships," after he inaugurated the Phase 2 expansion of Vizhinjam Port.

In an X post, Vijayan said that the state government has proven its critics wrong.

Adding that the project will be completed in phases by 2028, he said that the development of the port is moving 17 years ahead of schedule.

"Kerala moves forward! Inaugurated the Phase II expansion of @PortOfVizhinjam & the new Port-NH link road today. From being 'the land where nothing happens' to hosting the world's largest mother ships, we've proved the critics wrong. Remarkably, we are set to complete all phases of the port by 2028, a massive 17 years ahead of the original schedule! By then, Vizhinjam will be a fully integrated international hub, connecting Africa, the Middle East, and beyond," he wrote on X.

Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the development of the second phase of the Vizhinjam International Seaport, calling it the state's "economic backbone."

Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Karan Adani, MD of Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd, were also present at the ceremony.

Addressing the gathering, CM Vijayan said that Kerala has responded to "criticism and mockery" by turning such projects into reality and added that Adani Ports has adopted a "cooperative approach" for the Vizhinjam port.

Located in Vizhinjam, Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) is developing this deep-sea water port as India's first Mega Transhipment Container Terminal. Vizhinjam Port offers large-scale automation for quick turnaround of vessels with infrastructure to handle Megamax containerships. Its capacity in phase 1 is to be 1 million TEUs, and in subsequent phases, another 6.2 million TEUs will be added.

Today, Karan Adani announced a Rs 16,000 crore investment under Phase 2 and a total commitment of Rs 30,000 crore, with which Vizhinjam will scale to 5.7 million TEUs by 2029.

Meanwhile, the inauguration also triggered a credit war between Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) for the Vizhinjam International Seaport. Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly, VD Satheesan, called former Chief Minister and Congress leader Oommen Chandy the "architect of the port," while Kerala Finance Minister and CPI(M) leader KN Balagopal said that the port project was conceived during former Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan's tenure.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While the development is impressive, I hope the environmental and social costs are being managed properly. The initial protests by the fishing community in Vizhinjam highlighted real concerns about livelihoods and coastal erosion. Progress shouldn't come at the expense of local people.
R
Rohit P
Instead of a credit war, both Congress and CPI(M) should celebrate this as a win for Kerala. It's a project that spanned multiple governments. Let's focus on the future jobs, trade, and investment it will bring. The "land where nothing happens" tag can finally be buried!
S
Sarah B
The scale of investment is mind-boggling – Rs 30,000 crore! This has the potential to transform not just Kerala but the entire southern region's logistics. Handling Megamax ships puts us on the global maritime map. A proud moment.
K
Karthik V
️ 17 years ahead of schedule? That's almost unheard of for an Indian infrastructure project! Hope this efficiency becomes the new standard. The port's location is perfect for connecting international shipping lanes. Big win for Make in India.
M
Meera T
As someone from Trivandrum, we've waited decades for this. The economic backbone, indeed. But the government must ensure that the benefits trickle down to the common person through better local infrastructure, skill development, and sustainable tourism, not just corporate profits.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50