Vizhinjam International Seaport expansion to reduce India’s foreign transshipment reliance

New cranes to manage vessels up to 28,000 TEUs.

The capacity augmentation works of Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala has officially commenced, marking the start of Phases II, III, and IV, the government said.

The expansion will extend the container berth to 2 km—the longest in India—and lengthen the breakwater to 3.88 km.

Additional container yards will be developed through sea reclamation, and new ship-to-shore and yard cranes will allow the port to handle next-generation vessels up to 28,000 TEUs.

Once complete, Vizhinjam will be capable of docking five mother vessels simultaneously, with an annual throughput of 5.7 million TEUs.

The project, undertaken by Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited under a Supplementary Concession Agreement signed in November 2024, advances completion to December 2028, with a total investment of ₹16,000 crore, including ₹7,398 crore for the expansion phases.

The inauguration was attended by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Kerala Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, senior State and Central Government officials, and representatives of the concessionaire.

Shri Sonowal said the expansion will strengthen India’s maritime infrastructure, reduce reliance on foreign transshipment hubs, and boost trade.

CM Vijayan also highlighted that Phase II will transform Vizhinjam into a global transshipment hub serving Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Africa.