Vizhinjam Port Plans to Extend Capacity After Rs 130B Investment

07 May 2025 CW Team

The Vizhinjam International Deepwater Seaport at Thiruvananthapuram is expected to undergo major renovations to increase its capacity. These upgrades comprise the second phase of expansion for the port and come at a price tag of Rs 130 billion. It will be funded by Adani Ports & SEZ Ltd (APSEZ) and is expected to be complete in 2028. The expansion will increase the capacity of the port from 1 million TEUs currently to 5 million TEUs.

Additionally, the breakwater will be given a major boost. Currently, the breakwater is 28 metres tall and built in 20 metre deep water. It is planned to be expanded by 900 metres in length during the second phase. The project will cost Rs 13.9 billion and once completed, will become the deepest breakwater in India.

This expansion plan comes off the heels of a wave of success for the port. In September 2024 and April 2025, it received the MSC Claude Girarde and MSC Türkiye respectively, which mark the first time ultra large container vessels have come to an Indian port. It boasts having India’s tallest ship-to-shore cranes and AI-powered vessel traffic management systems. And as it is situated 10 nautical miles from the international east–west shipping route, is poised to become a pivotal transshipment hub, reducing India’s dependence on ports like Colombo, Singapore, and Dubai.

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