Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to officially commission the Vizhinjam International Seaport, a move that is expected to significantly enhance Kerala's and India's position on the global maritime trade map. Located in Thiruvananthapuram, the deep-water port has been developed through a public-private partnership by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), at an estimated cost of Rs 8,867 crore. The port received its commercial commissioning certificate on December 4 of the previous year, following successful trial operations.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan highlighted the project as the largest-ever state investment in any port in the country, with the Kerala government bearing two-thirds of the cost. He noted that the commissioning of Vizhinjam port marks a new chapter in India's maritime journey, strengthening the nation's global presence in trade and logistics. Vijayan emphasized that this is not just the opening of a new port but the beginning of an era that will give Indian trade and logistics a stronger global presence.

Vizhinjam is India's first dedicated transshipment port and the country's first semi-automated port. Its strategic location, just 10 nautical miles from a key international shipping route, and naturally deep waters make it ideal for accommodating large cargo ships. Previously, a significant portion of India's transshipment containers, about 75 per cent, were handled by Colombo Port in Sri Lanka, resulting in substantial losses in foreign exchange and revenue. The Vizhinjam port is expected to repatriate much of this traffic back to India.

The Kerala government's investment covers the full cost of building the breakwater, which is critical for ensuring smooth port operations in all weather conditions. The breakwater at Vizhinjam is the deepest in India, stretching nearly three kilometers and standing 28 meters tall. Trial operations began on July 13, 2024, and full commercial operations commenced on December 3, 2024. During the trial phase, the port handled over 272 large vessels and more than 550,000 containers.

Vizhinjam is equipped with fully automated yard cranes and remotely operated ship-to-shore cranes for faster and safer operations. It also features India's first home-built, AI-powered Vessel Traffic Management System, developed with IIT Madras. All formal steps for the first phase of the project have been completed with the signing of the Viability Gap Funding agreement.

In early 2025, Vizhinjam emerged as a leading port on India's southern and western coasts for container cargo handling, managing over 100,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) per month. A key milestone was the berthing of the MSC Turkey, one of the largest cargo ships to ever reach India. Vizhinjam's inclusion in the Jade Service of MSC, the world's largest shipping company, marks another significant achievement. This major cargo route connects Europe and Asia via South Africa's Cape of Good Hope, positioning Vizhinjam as the main hub for South Asia on this route. The port now joins global giants like Qingdao, Shanghai, Busan, and Singapore in MSC's key services.

Ships in the Jade Service will sail from Singapore to Vizhinjam and then to ports in Spain and Italy, ensuring that more containers destined for India arrive directly at Vizhinjam for distribution via smaller feeder ships. The next phase of construction, expected to be completed by 2028 and fully funded by Adani Ports at a cost of Rs 10,000 crore, will increase the port's annual capacity to at least 3 million TEUs. Vizhinjam is also being developed as a multi-modal hub, with direct road access to National Highway 66 and Kerala's first cloverleaf interchange to manage future cargo growth. A railway link connecting the port to the national network is slated to begin construction soon.

With these advancements, Vizhinjam is poised to become a pivotal gateway for trade in South Asia and a significant symbol of India's expanding maritime capabilities, according to Vijayan.