Vizhinjam port eyes 40% EXIM share in total cargo volumes over 3-5 years
“Vizhinjam International Seaport, the country’s first deepwater transshipment port, is rapidly scaling up infrastructure to commence direct export-import (EXIM) operations, aiming to achieve a 40:60 mix between EXIM and transshipment cargo volumes over the next three to five years.”
“Located in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram district, Vizhinjam International Seaport is only 10 nautical miles off international East-West and Far East — Middle East Asia shipping routes. The port currently handles only transshipment cargo with direct EXIM operations expected to begin this September. EXIM operations have been delayed due to the lack of last-mile road or rail connectivity to the port.”
“Additionally, the Kerala government is planning a 10.7-km largely underground railway line from the port to Balaramapuram, a small station located between Tamil Nadu’s Nagercoil and Kanyakumari, to improve rail access. The project is expected to be completed by December 2028. A cloverleaf interchange is also on cards to enable seamless entry of 1,000–2,000 trucks daily into the port through the road.”
“APSEZ [Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone] will be investing ₹10,000 crore over the next three years for the the second phase of expansion. This includes extending the breakwater by another 1 km from its current 3 km length and expanding the jetty from 800 metres to 2,000 metres by 2028. Once completed, the port’s annual capacity will rise to 4.5 million TEUs, up from 1.5 million TEUs at present.”