Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 16 (NationPress) Kerala Ports Minister V.N. Vasavan announced on Tuesday that the next stage of construction for the Vizhinjam International Seaport is set to commence in January 2026.

He highlighted that the first phase of operations at the Vizhinjam International Seaport has exceeded expectations, managing to handle nearly 400,000 more containers than the initial target during its first year of commercial operations.

The Minister shared this information during a press conference in Vizhinjam after a review meeting concerning the port's current status and future plans.

“The commercial activities at the port began on December 3, 2024, following the issuance of a completion certificate by engineers. The original goal for the first year was to process 1 million containers, but recent data indicates that the port has received 636 vessels and handled nearly 1.4 million containers,” stated Minister Vasavan.

Among the vessels that have docked at Vizhinjam are some of the largest container ships globally, including MSC Turkey, MSC Irene, and MSC Verona, which have never before visited Asian ports.

Preparations for the second, third, and fourth phases of the port's construction are complete.

“In the second phase, the current 800-metre berth will be extended by an additional 1,200 metres, bringing the total berth length to 2,000 metres. This enhancement will allow multiple large vessels to dock and manage cargo at the same time. Additionally, the existing 2.96-km breakwater will be extended by 920 metres, resulting in a total length exceeding 3.9 km,” added Minister Vasavan.

The launch of construction for the next phase is scheduled for the second week of January, with the exact date pending confirmation of the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and representatives from the Adani Group.

According to the revised agreement, the second, third, and fourth phases are projected to be completed by 2028, after which Vizhinjam is anticipated to become a significant global port.

Efforts to enhance connectivity via a temporarily constructed approach road are nearing completion and will be inaugurated shortly, facilitating the initiation of cargo transport by road.

Land acquisition for a 10.7-km railway line to establish rail access to the port is underway.

The Minister also mentioned that Vizhinjam has recently attained Integrated Check Post (ICP) status, enabling the development of new tourism facilities in collaboration with the Tourism Department.

Approximately 50 hectares of land will be acquired for establishing yard facilities and inspection infrastructure necessary for completing the remaining phases.

So far, the state government has generated around Rs 97 crore in tax revenue from the port.

Currently, nearly 1,000 individuals are employed directly, and once all phases are finalized, it is projected that over 6,000 direct jobs and thousands of indirect positions in logistics and related sectors will be created.

Emphasizing the port's natural advantages—including a depth of 20 metres, a rocky seabed, and proximity of just 10 nautical miles from the international shipping lane—Minister Vasavan expressed pride that vessels not calling at Dubai, Singapore, or Colombo are now docking at Vizhinjam.