Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Minister for Ports, V N Vasavan, said construction work for the next phase of the Vizhinjam International Seaport project will begin in January next year, as the port’s first phase of commercial operations has exceeded expectations.

Addressing a press conference at Vizhinjam on Tuesday after a review meeting on the continuation of works at the deepwater port, Vasavan said the initial phase has recorded performance well above its projected targets. Within a year of commencing commercial operations, the port has handled nearly four lakh containers more than the anticipated volume.

Commercial operations at Vizhinjam port began on December 3, 2024, following the issuance of the completion certificate by engineers. The initial target for the first year was to handle one million containers, according to an official statement quoting the minister. However, the latest figures show that 636 vessels have called at the port so far, with approximately 1.4 million containers handled.

The minister noted that some of the world’s largest container vessels, including MSC Turkey, MSC Irina and MSC Verona, have docked at Vizhinjam. These vessels had not previously called at ports along the Asian coastline, underscoring the port’s growing global significance.

Preparations have been completed to commence the second, third and fourth phases of construction at the Adani-operated Vizhinjam International Seaport. As part of the second phase, the existing 800-metre berth will be extended by an additional 1,200 metres, increasing the total berth length to 2,000 metres. This expansion will allow multiple large container vessels to berth and handle cargo simultaneously.

In addition, the existing 2.96-kilometre breakwater will be extended by 920 metres, taking its total length to more than 3.9 kilometres, further enhancing the port’s capacity and operational safety.

“The inauguration of construction works for the next phase will be held in the second week of January. The final date will be announced after considering the availability of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani,” Vasavan said.

Under the revised agreement, the second, third and fourth phases of the Vizhinjam port project are scheduled to be completed by 2028. Once these phases are operational, Vizhinjam is expected to emerge as a port of global prominence in international maritime trade, the minister added.

Connectivity infrastructure is also progressing, with the temporarily constructed approach road nearing completion. The road is expected to be inaugurated soon, enabling the start of cargo transportation by road. Land acquisition is underway for the proposed 10.7-kilometre railway line to provide rail connectivity to the port.

Following the recent grant of Integrated Check Post (ICP) status to Vizhinjam, the minister said new tourism-related facilities could be developed in the region. Efforts in this direction will be initiated in consultation with the Tourism Department.

Vasavan also said the government has decided to acquire around 50 hectares of land to develop additional yard facilities and inspection infrastructure required for the completion of the upcoming phases of the project.

So far, the state government has received approximately Rs 97 crore in tax revenue from Vizhinjam International Seaport. At present, nearly 1,000 people have secured direct employment at the port. Once all phases are completed, more than 6,000 direct jobs are expected to be created, with thousands more benefiting indirectly through logistics, allied industries and related sectors.

PTI