Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal has confirmed that the highly anticipated Vizhinjam Port project will be completed by 2028, marking a major milestone for the state’s infrastructure development.

The announcement was made during the state’s budget presentation for the financial year 2025-26 on Friday. The port, a critical part of Kerala’s push to enhance its maritime trade, is expected to play a transformative role in boosting India’s export capabilities and facilitating global trade.

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However, the announcement came on the heels of a strong criticism of the Union Budget, which Balagopal and other state ministers expressed deep disappointment over. The central budget, they noted, completely overlooked the Vizhinjam Port, which is being developed as a state-of-the-art deep-water transshipment hub.

Balagopal described the omission of the port from the Union Budget as “utterly sad and condemnable,” particularly given the project’s significance to India’s export promotion and its potential to reshape the country’s maritime trade infrastructure.

While the Union Budget highlighted various aspects of export growth, it failed to mention one of the most crucial infrastructure projects for India’s shipping and logistics sector in recent years. Balagopal stressed that the Vizhinjam Port has already made substantial progress, handling high volumes of cargo during its trial run, and is poised to become one of the most important gateways for India’s global trade.

The deep-water port, located in Kerala’s southern coast, has been designed to handle large container vessels and facilitate the transfer of goods for both national and international trade. As it continues to grow, the port is set to strengthen India’s position as a leading player in global maritime commerce.

The Kerala government’s vision for the port is part of a broader plan to boost the state’s infrastructure and economy, creating thousands of jobs and stimulating trade across the region.