Centre has granted final approval for extending viability gap funding (VGF) of Rs 8.18 billion to the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport being built by the Adani Group, even as protests from local fishermen and other delays continue to dog the project. The port is meant to cut India’s dependence on Colombo to send and receive container cargo. The Vizhinjam project is entitled to receive a viability grant funding of Rs 16.35 billion, to be shared by the Centre (Rs 8.18 billion) and the Kerala government (Rs 8.17 billion), making it the first and only port project to be offered such a grant. Of this, Rs 12.27 billion will be given during the construction phase and the balance during the operation period spanning 40 years and extendable by another 20 years.
