Modi Unveils $1b Vizhinjam Port to Rival Global Trade Giants
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday dedicated the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport, a $1 billion project, to the nation (Image credit PIB)
Vizhinjam Port, first dedicated container transshipment facility, to reduce reliance on foreign ports
By Amit Kumar
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India, May 2, 2025 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday dedicated the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport, a $1 billion project, to the nation, marking a milestone in India’s ambition to become a global maritime trade hub.
The port, located in Kerala’s capital, is the country’s first dedicated container transshipment facility and aims to reduce reliance on foreign ports.
Speaking at the inauguration, Modi hailed the port as a “symbol of new-age development” that would transform Kerala into a center for global commerce.
Costing ₹8,800 crore ($1.04 billion), Vizhinjam’s deep draft of nearly 20 meters allows it to handle some of the world’s largest cargo ships. The Prime Minister said its capacity is expected to triple in coming years, capturing a share of the 75% of India’s transshipment operations previously handled abroad.
“This port will ensure India’s money serves India,” Modi said, emphasizing that revenue once lost to foreign ports would now create economic opportunities in Kerala.
He framed the project as part of a broader vision to revive India’s historical maritime prowess, noting Kerala’s role in ancient trade routes across the Arabian Sea.
The port’s strategic location near major global shipping lanes positions it as a key node in initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, a trade route championed by India at the 2023 G20 Summit.
Modi said the port, developed under a public-private partnership, reflects a decade of reforms to modernize India’s maritime infrastructure.
Since 2014, India has doubled its port capacity, reduced ship turnaround times by 30%, and expanded national waterways eightfold, Modi said. Two Indian ports now rank among the global top 30, and the country has climbed the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index.
The government’s Sagarmala Project and PM Gati Shakti initiative have bolstered port connectivity through integrated rail, road, and waterway networks.
Modi also highlighted a surge in Indian seafarers, from 125,000 in 2014 to over 325,000 today, placing India among the top three seafaring nations.
A new shipbuilding and repair cluster in nearby Kochi, alongside policies to promote large-ship construction, will create jobs and boost manufacturing, he added.
The event coincided with the birth anniversary of Adi Shankaracharya, an 8th-century philosopher from Kerala. Modi, speaking on the same day that the Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand reopened to devotees, paid tribute to Shankaracharya’s role in unifying India’s spiritual traditions.
Kerala’s development has been a priority, Modi said, citing projects like the Kollam and Alappuzha bypasses, Vande Bharat trains, and welfare programs such as the Jal Jeevan Mission and Ayushman Bharat. He also noted investments in fishing communities through the Blue Revolution and modernized harbors, with thousands of fishermen receiving financial aid via Kisan Credit Cards.
The ceremony was attended by Kerala’s governor, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar; chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan; and union ministers, including Suresh Prabhu and George Kurien.
The Vizhinjam port, a flagship of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) vision, is expected to enhance logistics efficiency and strengthen India’s role in global trade. “India’s maritime sector will reach new heights,” Modi said, expressing confidence in Kerala’s potential to lead the way.
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