PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate Vizhinjam International Seaport today. Why is this Thiruvananthapuram port key for India?
In the Middle Ages, Vizhinjam—now a village in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala—held significant importance as a hub of international trade, supported by its natural deep-water harbour and strategic location on the southwest coast of India. Archaeological excavations confirm that Vizhinjam was a prominent port town from at least the early historic period (1st–2nd century BCE) and continued to flourish under the rule of the Ay dynasty, which made it their capital. The port later came under the influence of the Pandyas and the Cholas, both of whom sought control over its lucrative trade and strategic position.
By the 12th century, Vizhinjam’s prominence as a major maritime node declined, largely due to political turmoil caused by repeated conflicts among the Ays, Pandyas, and Cholas, as well as shifting trade routes. By the colonial era, Vizhinjam had been reduced to a small fishing harbor.
After several centuries, Vizhinjam is now regaining its historical maritime significance. Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will commission the first phase of the Vizhinjam International Seaport, built at an estimated cost of ₹8,867 crore. Developed under a public-private partnership, with the Government of Kerala as owner and the Adani Group responsible for design, construction, and operation, the port is expected to reestablish Vizhinjam as a critical player in international trade corridors.
Developed under a public-private partnership model, where the Government of Kerala owns the port, and the Adani Group is responsible for its design, construction, financing for advanced phases, and operation for a period of 40 years, Vizhinjam is called the “port of the future”.
Following a successful trial run, the port received its commercial commissioning certificate on December 4. During the trial phase, when THE WEEK visited the port, Pradeep Jayaraman, CEO of Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd, told this reporter that from the technology standpoint, the technology that is implemented in Vizhinjam Port has no parallel anywhere in India or anywhere in South Asia. Jayaraman noted that major measures have been taken for the automation of processes employing technologies like the Internet of Things, AI and computer vision.
The port is equipped with an AI-driven control room and an advanced Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) developed by IIT-Madras. This home-built, AI-powered Vessel Traffic Management System relies on a network of radar systems, sensors and AI for precise monitoring and management of ship movements. The system includes weather monitoring tools like tide gauges and wave/current monitors, crucial for safe operations given the port’s susceptibility to swells.
Vizhinjam is India’s first deepwater transshipment terminal. Though designed primarily for container transshipment, it is also equipped to handle multi-purpose, break-bulk, and bulk cargo, as well as cruise ships.
Vizhinjam also has the capacity to receive the largest motherships in the world.
Vizhinjam is equipped with eight semi-automatic ship-to-shore cranes and 23 automatic yard cranes, enabling rapid and efficient container movement. Automation and real-time data processing minimize vessel waiting times and increase port capacity by optimizing ship traffic and resource allocation.
Even now large majority of India's exports are trans-shipped outside the country. On average, this adds one to two weeks to the shipping time, making our exports slightly less competitive and adding a few hundred dollars in extra costs per container. This results in significant foreign exchange outflows, higher costs for our exporters, and additional delays in getting products to market. And, Vizhinjam offers a solution to this long-lasting problem. It is strategically positioned just 10 nautical miles from the busy international shipping route connecting Europe, the Persian Gulf, and the Far East, and it is India's deepest draft port today. By reducing India’s reliance on foreign ports for transshipment, Vizhinjam is set to lower logistics costs and boost the country’s share in global maritime trade.
The port’s curved coastline and natural geography provide protection from tsunamis and minimize erosion, making it an all-weather port with low maintenance requirements. Vizhinjam is also designed as India’s first eco-friendly port, with sustainability and modern environmental standards at its core.
While transhipment is the primary focus, the port's scope is set to expand beyond simply moving containers between ships. The future phases of this port that is commissioned today will include multipurpose berths to accommodate different types of cargo, not just containers.
The next phases of development of the port are expected to begin immediately. Phases 2, 3, and 4 will be combined for capacity augmentation and are expected to be completed by 2028.
Ever since the trial operations began in July 2024, 285 ships have arrived at Vizhinjam International Seaport. The port handled 5.93 lakh TEUs and surpassed the expectations. Ahead of commissioning, Kerala’s port minister V.N. Vasavan said Vizhinjam can handle up to 30 lakh TEUs annually, and based on current projections, it can touch 45 lakh TEUs.
India