PM Modi to Launch Rs 8,900 Cr Vizhinjam Deepwater Seaport: Kerala's Gateway to Global Trade

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the ₹8,900 crore Vizhinjam International Deepwater Seaport in Kerala on May 2, which will enable India to join the global transshipment business. The port, located 10 nautical miles from international shipping routes, will cut India's reliance on Colombo, Singapore, and Dubai for cargo transshipment, saving $200–400 million annually in logistics.

 

salient features:

 

Deep draft: 20-meter natural depth to accommodate mega-container ships (24,000 TEU capacity).

 

Automation: The first half-automatic Indian port with remote-controlled cranes and paperless operations.

 

Trial success: Handled 593,000 TEUs since July 2024, having won over giants such as MSC.

 

Developed by Adani Ports' PPP with Kerala, the project originally faced political opposition but now enjoys leaders from all parties, such as Shashi Tharoor, who welcomed its bipartisan heritage.

 

Sources: NDTV, The Economic Times, ANI