Adani Ports to invest ₹13,000 crore to expand capacity at Vizhinjam

By Admin

03 May, 2025

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), India’s largest ports and logistics company under the Adani Group, is set to make a significant leap in enhancing India's maritime infrastructure. The company will invest approximately ₹13,000 crore to expand the capacity of the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Seaport at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala — a strategic move that strengthens India’s ambition to emerge as a leading global transshipment hub.

Phase Two Expansion to be Fully Funded by APSEZ

The Vizhinjam port project, developed under a Public Private Partnership (PPP), initially attracted an investment of ₹7,000 crore. Of this, APSEZ contributed ₹4,300 crore. According to Karan Adani, Managing Director of APSEZ, the second phase of development will see a further investment of ₹12,000 to ₹13,000 crore, fully funded by APSEZ itself.

With this, the port's capacity is expected to expand significantly — from the current 1 million TEUs to 5 million TEUs. This second phase of the project is slated for completion by 2028, positioning Vizhinjam as one of the most important maritime assets in the region.

Engineering Marvel: India’s Deepest Breakwater

One of the project’s most notable engineering feats is the construction of India’s deepest breakwater, which was built in water depths of 18–20 meters and reaches an overall height of 28 meters — equivalent to a 9-storey building. The 900-meter extension of the breakwater is planned as part of the second phase, along with an expansion of the berth by 12 meters. The breakwater construction, costing ₹1,387 crore, was entirely funded by the Government of Kerala.

Strategic Advantage and Operational Success

Vizhinjam’s strategic location — just 10 nautical miles from the international east–west shipping route — allows it to serve as a vital transshipment hub, reducing India’s dependence on foreign ports like Colombo, Singapore, and Dubai. The port also enjoys a natural deep draft of 18 meters, enabling it to accommodate ultra-large next-gen container ships with draft requirements of 20 meters or more without any capital dredging.

Since commencing trial operations in July 2024, the port has handled over 280 vessels and 6 lakh TEUs. It made headlines by receiving mega ships like the MSC Claude Girarde in September 2024 and MSC Türkiye in April 2025 — two of the largest container vessels ever to visit an Indian port.

Technologically Advanced Infrastructure

Vizhinjam boasts India’s tallest ship-to-shore cranes and is equipped with AI-powered vessel traffic management systems, ensuring high efficiency and seamless operations. These state-of-the-art facilities, coupled with the port’s strategic depth and location, solidify its potential to become a world-class maritime gateway for India.

A Long-Term Commitment to India’s Maritime Future

The Kerala government signed an agreement with APSEZ in 2015, granting the company a 40-year concession to build, operate, and transfer the port, with a provision for a 20-year extension. This long-term vision underscores both parties’ commitment to turning Vizhinjam into a globally competitive logistics hub.

As the second phase of development unfolds, Vizhinjam is poised not only to transform Kerala’s coastline but also to redefine India’s position on the global maritime map.