Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) is set to undertake the second phase of development at the Vizhinjam seaport at an estimated cost of around Rs 160 billion, according to sources. An official announcement is expected during the Phase 2 inauguration ceremony on Saturday.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the second phase of development, which APSEZ expects to transform Vizhinjam into the largest transhipment hub in the Indian subcontinent. The expansion will add around 4.1 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to the port’s existing capacity.

Sources said Vizhinjam is already among the most advanced and fully automated transhipment ports in India, and the Phase 2 development will incorporate upgraded automation technologies and equipment. The new phase will include 21 automated ship-to-shore cranes, 45 automated cantilever rail-mounted gantry cranes, a rail handling yard, and advanced electrical and automation systems.

Phase 2 will also involve berth expansion, dredging and reclamation to create additional operational capacity, along with the construction of India’s deepest breakwater, stretching 920 metres at a depth of 21 metres. The development will further include the deployment of green equipment such as electric vehicle charging infrastructure and the construction of critical facilities, including an electrical substation, sewage treatment plant and International Ship and Port Facility Security fencing.

The expansion is expected to significantly strengthen Vizhinjam’s role in India’s maritime infrastructure, enhance transhipment capacity and reinforce Kerala’s position as a key logistics and trade hub in the region.