PM Modi to inaugurate Vizhinjam International Seaport on May 2
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will likely inaugurate the Vizhinjam International Seaport on May 2. Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will attend the function with other dignitaries. Official sources said the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had sent a letter to the Kerala government confirming Mr. Modi’s visit.
The port which is being developed and run by Adani Ports already began commercial operations last December and has been awaiting Prime Minister’s date for formal commissioning.
The port—which is considered as a game changer in Kerala’s development—caters to 263 ships and handles 5.36 lakh TEU of containers.
The largest cargo vessels including MSC Turkiye, which is one of the world’s largest and most fuel-efficient container ships, is already docked at Vizhinjam thereby proving the capability of the port to handle big vessels.
The Vizhinjam port is the first mega transshipment container terminal in the country.
Proximity to the international shipping route that connects Europe, the Persian Gulf, Southeast Asia and the Far East by just ten nautical miles is considered as the biggest attraction of the port. A natural depth of 20 metre also makes it ideal for large mother ships.
The port is already equipped with modern cargo handling facilities and already offered around 800 direct jobs
The formal inauguration of the seaport had been delayed due to technical issues. However, it has since resolved several pending matters, clearing the path for future development. The Centre and the state government have also resolved disagreements over the sharing of the Viability Gap Fund (VGF) for the project, culminating in an agreement signed on April 9. Before this, in March, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) granted environmental clearance for the second and third phases of the port’s development.
As part of the agreement, the Centre has committed to contributing Rs 817.80 crore as its share of the VGF to Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited (AVPPL), the project’s concessionaire. A tripartite agreement was signed among the Centre, AVPPL, and the consortium of banks involved. Additionally, the state government has agreed to share 20% of the port’s revenue with the Centre
The port has already proven to be economically significant, contributing Rs.32 crore in taxes to the Kerala government and generating Rs. 181 crore in revenue for Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd (AVPPL). Its strategic positioning boosts its relevance in international maritime trade.