Thiruvananthapuram, May 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport in Kerala on Friday, calling it a “symbol of new age development.” Developed under a public-private partnership by Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd., the port is India’s first deepwater container transshipment hub.
The inauguration, held in Thiruvananthapuram, was attended by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. Built at a cost of ₹8,900 crore, the port is set to play a transformative role in India’s maritime trade.
PM Modi highlighted the port’s strategic and economic significance:
“On one hand, there is the vast sea of opportunities and on the other, the beauty of nature — in between stands Vizhinjam Port, a symbol of progress.”
Key highlights:
- India’s first deep-sea transshipment hub
- Located just 10 nautical miles from key international shipping routes
- Aims to reduce India’s dependency on foreign ports for cargo transshipment
- Developed on a landlord model with design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (DBFOT) terms
- Construction began in December 2015
PM Modi also marked the occasion of Adi Shankaracharya Jayanti, recalling his visits to Kedarnath and Shankaracharya’s birthplace, and the unveiling of his statues in Kashi Vishwanath Dham and Kedarnath.
CM Vijayan thanked the Prime Minister and praised Adani Group for executing the project with excellence:
“This project is a milestone for Kerala’s development and India’s maritime future.”