Vizhinjam Port to Begin Gateway Cargo Operations by Mid-April

19 Mar 2025 CW Team

Gateway cargo operations at Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL) are set to begin in April, with roadway traffic expected to start before April 15. While the exact launch date is yet to be confirmed, shipping liner MSC, which manages major cargo operations at the port, is expected to initiate gateway operations next month.

Currently, the port handles only transshipment activities. The 1.7-km road built by the Adani Group to connect the port with NH 66 is nearing completion, with only 600 meters remaining, expected to be completed by the end of March. The newly constructed port user building, housing customs officers for container inspections, is also ready, equipped with a scanner near the port gateway.

The facility will soon accommodate officials from Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd and VISL. Construction is ongoing around the clock to meet the April deadline. Adjustments are being made to the road’s height to align with two existing bridges.

However, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has not yet approved a median cut on NH 66, which means container trucks will initially use service roads to access the highway. Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan has written to the NHAI chairman, urging immediate approval for temporary and permanent road connectivity from the port to NH 66 at Thalakode.

The proposed 1.7-km, four-lane road aims to reduce congestion at NH 66 and provide smooth access for vehicles traveling from the port to the planned outer ring road.

Infrastructure Transport

30 May 2026

Chembur Metro to Boost East Mumbai Links

MMRDA is advancing eastern Mumbai’s urban mobility network, with the upcoming Chembur Metro Station set to emerge as a key interchange and the Mumbai Monorail preparing for relaunch.Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA, conducted a site visit to Chembur Metro Station along with Kanhuraj Bagate, Managing Director, MMMOCL. He also visited the nearby VN Purav Monorail Station to review system preparedness and ease of interconnectivity.Once operational, the interchange is expected to offer commuters across the eastern suburbs quicker access, smoother transfers and seamless conne..

Herrenknecht TBMs Drive Thane–Borivali Tunnel Progress

Herrenknecht India has supplied two of the four tunnel boring machines (TBMs) required for the 11-km Thane–Borivali Twin Tunnel Project being developed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). The project is expected to reduce travel time between Thane and Borivali from 60–90 minutes to around 15 minutes while easing congestion across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.The first two Single Shield TBMs, named Nayak and Arjuna, feature 13.34-m cutterhead diameters and are designed for hard-rock excavation. They will be deployed to tunnel through the challenging geological..

KBL Launches Smart Skid Mounted Fire Pump Set

Kirloskar Brothers (KBL) has launched its Smart Skid Mounted Fire Pump Set, an integrated fire protection solution designed to improve operational efficiency, remote monitoring and installation flexibility. The system was inaugurated by Ms Madhuritai Misal, Hon. Minister of State for Urban Development, Government of Maharashtra.The Smart Skid Mounted Fire Pump Set is a factory-tested, pre-packaged solution that combines FM/UL-certified motor and engine pump sets with IoT-enabled remote monitoring. Designed to deliver a flow rate of 170 m³/hr at a head of 100 metres, the system aims to provide..