Prime Minister Modi Inaugurates Vizhinjam International Deepwater Seaport at Kerala: What the Adani-led Maritime Project Promises

Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala today, May 2, 2025. The Vizhinjam Seaport is India’s first dedicated deep-water transshipment terminal and a significant milestone in the country’s maritime prowess.

Genesis of the Project

The Vizhinjam Port project was conceived as part of Kerala’s strategic infrastructure development efforts and is being executed in a landlord model under a design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis. The concessionaire, Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited, began construction on December 5, 2015. After a successful trial phase, the port received its commercial commissioning certificate on December 4, 2024.

Developed under a public-private partnership model by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ), India’s largest private port operator, the ₹8,867 crore project is expected to revolutionize India’s logistics landscape, significantly reduce dependence on foreign transshipment hubs, while strengthening the coastal economy of the southern-state of Kerala.

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A Vision Anchored in the Future

The inauguration, which began with PM Modi arriving by helicopter at 10:15 a.m., was marked by a detailed walkthrough of the transshipment terminal’s state-of-the-art facilities.

The inauguration ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram was also attended by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, and Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, underscoring the significance of the project in India’s trade landscape. PM Modi described the port as a “symbol of new-age development,” citing its location between the vast Arabian Sea and Kerala’s pristine coastline as a convergence of natural beauty and economic opportunity.

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Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for dedicating the landmark project to the nation, and praised the Adani Group for executing it with excellence.

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Strategic Positioning: A Gateway to Global Trade

Located just 14 kilometers from Kerala’s capital and only 10 nautical miles from one of the world’s busiest east-west international shipping lanes, Vizhinjam boasts a natural depth of over 20 meters, making it one of the few ports in the region capable of accommodating Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs).

With its strategic positioning, the port is positioned to become South Asia’s foremost transshipment hub, poised to draw container traffic that previously rerouted through overseas ports such as Colombo, Singapore, and Jebel Ali. India currently loses approximately $220 million annually in port revenues due to this dependency, along with $80–$100 per container in additional logistics costs. Vizhinjam is poised to address this inefficiency and recapture lost trade volumes.

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Economic and Employment Boost

The port’s operations are expected to generate over 4,000 direct jobs and more than 20,000 indirect jobs during its initial phase, offering employment opportunities in shipping, logistics, customs, warehousing, and allied sectors. This development is aligned with India’s National Logistics Policy, which seeks to reduce logistics costs from the current 13–14% of GDP to single digits.

Vizhinjam also incorporates modern customs integration, including digital clearance systems, real-time cargo tracking, and paperless documentation, implemented by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). These features are expected to significantly reduce vessel turnaround time and promote efficiency, with Vizhinjam emerging as a model for India's port-led growth.

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Linking to Global Trade Corridors

Adding to its global significance, the Vizhinjam seaport is set to play an integral role in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a multinational initiative formalized during the G20 Summit.

Prime Minister Modi highlighted Kerala’s key position along the corridor, noting that Vizhinjam’s proximity to international shipping routes makes it a natural anchor point for east-west maritime trade. As part of IMEC, the port will serve as a gateway for goods traveling between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, enhancing India’s integration into global value chains and reducing reliance on foreign-controlled transshipment hubs.

Prime Minister Modi, while addressing the public at the inauguration, emphasized that Vizhinjam is not merely a port but a transformational node in India’s maritime ambition.

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The port, which has already received its first mothership and handled around 250 container vessels during its partial operations since July 2023, is being expanded with an additional ₹9,500 crore investment. Upon completion of all phases, expected by 2028–29, the port’s handling capacity will rise to over 7 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) annually, establishing it as one of Asia’s largest container terminals.

The port has already been integrated into the Jade route operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Company, connecting it to major ports across China, South Korea, Singapore, Spain, and Italy.

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Charting a New Course

As the first semi-automated and fully digitalized port in the country, Vizhinjam is founded not only in engineering ambition but in economic strategy. With its combination of scale, technology, and strategic geography, Vizhinjam International Seaport is set to steer India into a commanding position in global maritime logistics.

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