Vizhinjam Port Opens With Kerala Majority Stake

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport in Kerala, India's first dedicated deepwater transshipment port, developed as a public-private partnership with the Kerala government holding a majority share and the Adani Group as operator. Strategically located 10 nautical miles from global shipping lanes, the port can accommodate the world’s largest cargo ships without capital dredging. The first phase, built at a cost of around Rs 8,900 crore, has already handled hundreds of ships, including ultra-large vessels, and is projected to save India about $220 million annually by reducing reliance on foreign transshipment hubs. Future phases will expand the port’s capacity to 7.4 million containers per year, aiming to establish it as a leading global hub and drive significant economic growth and job creation in Kerala and India. The inauguration highlighted shifting investment attitudes and Kerala’s pivotal role in the project. The Adani Group is also seeking further international expansion, underscoring India’s global maritime ambitions.