Vizhinjam Port enters new growth phase with APSEZ’s ₹16,000-crore investment promise
Karan Adani, MD of Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd, speaks during the inauguration of the second phase of the Vizhinjam International Seaport, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on January 24, 2026. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and others also present. (@AdaniportsX/ANI Photo)
| Photo Credit:
ANI
Vizhinjam International Seaport is set to enter a new phase of growth following the announcement of a ₹16,000-crore investment commitment by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ).
At the inaugural function of the second phase of Vizhinjam Port development, Karan Adani, Managing Director, APSEZ, said the expansion would extend the container berth length from 800 metres to 2,000 metres and increase the breakwater length to about 3,900 metres, with completion targeted by 2028. Once completed, Vizhinjam’s capacity will scale from 1 million TEUs to 5.7 million TEUs by 2029.
Phase 2 forms part of the Group’s cumulative ₹30,000 crore investment commitment in Kerala, announced at the Invest Kerala Global Summit 2025. Phase 1 and Phase 2 represent the largest private sector infrastructure investment in the State’s history. The expansion is expected to catalyse port-led industrialisation, employment generation and strengthen Kerala’s position as a globally competitive maritime and logistics destination, he said.
Located close to major east–west shipping lanes, Vizhinjam is rapidly emerging as India’s principal deep-water transshipment hub, offering a competitive alternative to established regional gateways such as Dubai, Colombo, Singapore and Port Klang in Malayasia, he said.
The State Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, said that Vizhinjam Port, which started operations as a national transshipment terminal will become an international transshipment hub serving ports in Africa and the Middle East. “With this, our Vizhinjam Port will become a very important centre on the global maritime trade map”, he said.
Karan Adani pointed out that in just 15 months of commercial operations, Vizhinjam became the fastest Indian port to handle one million TEUs, firmly placing Kerala on the global shipping map. It became the fastest Indian port to handle one million TEUs, achieving the milestone in record time. The port crossed one million TEUs of annual capacity within 10 months of operations and handled 615 vessels and 1.32 million TEUs in its first year.
Published on January 24, 2026
