Marking another major milestone in the construction and operation of Kerala’s Vizhinjam International Seaport, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday inaugurated the second phase of construction works.
In his address, the Chief Minister said Vizhinjam Port had become a “wonder” and that a long-cherished national dream had turned into reality.
He noted that with the completion of the first phase, Vizhinjam had emerged as the economic backbone of Kerala, creating significant employment opportunities for the youth.
“The era of depending on others for the movement of goods is over. Kerala’s name has been written in golden letters on the global shipping map. The world has recognised the strength of this port. Vizhinjam has left many ports behind,” Vijayan said.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal attended the function as the chief guest. State Ministers V.N. Vasavan and K.N. Balagopal, Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V.V. Rajesh, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, and several other dignitaries were also present.
Within just one year of commencing operations, Vizhinjam Port has handled 15.13 lakh TEUs across 710 vessels. Direct shipping services connecting major ports in Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia have been launched in a short span, positioning Vizhinjam as a key hub in global maritime trade and a strategic commercial gateway for South Asia.
India’s first fully automated port, Vizhinjam became operational with the completion of Phase One—having an annual capacity of 1 million TEUs—on December 3, 2024. Phase Two will increase the port’s capacity fivefold to 5 million TEUs. As part of the expansion, the berth length will be extended from 800 metres to 2,000 metres, while the breakwater will be lengthened from 3 km to 4 km.