Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), revealed that the Vizhinjam International Seaport project in Kerala marks the largest investment ever made by a business entity in the state. The port, which has gained global recognition in a short span since its inception, is set to receive an additional infusion of Rs 16,000 crore for its Phase-2 development.
Adani emphasized that within just 15 months of operation, Vizhinjam became the fastest Indian port to handle one million TEUs, positioning Kerala prominently on the global shipping landscape. The upcoming Phase-2 expansion, involving a total investment of Rs 30,000 crore, will boost the port’s capacity from 1 million TEUs to 5.7 million TEUs by 2029, solidifying its national significance.
Highlighting the strategic importance of Vizhinjam, Adani projected the port to emerge as the largest transhipment hub in the Indian subcontinent and a technologically advanced maritime center on a global scale. He underscored the bipartisan political support behind the project, emphasizing that such mega infrastructure endeavors transcend individual governments and reflect sustained political will across administrations and party lines.
Adani credited former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy for initiating the project and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for driving its realization with unwavering commitment. He also acknowledged the contributions of Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, highlighting the cooperative federalism exemplified by Vizhinjam. Adani expressed gratitude for the presence of Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, recognizing the project’s alignment with India’s port-led development strategy under the Prime Minister’s leadership.
