IAS Gyan

Daily News Analysis

Vizhinjam Port Project

6th December, 2022 Economy

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Context

  • The Vizhinjam project, which began on August 17, 2015, was scheduled to be completed by December 3, 2019. However, the project suffered repeated delays.

Details

  • The Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport, also known as the Vizhinjam Port is an under-construction port on the Arabian Sea coast at the city of Trivandrum.
  • It is proposed to follow the landlord port model, with the intention of catering for passenger, container and other cargo shipping. Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL) is a special-purpose government company fully owned by Government of Kerala that would act as an implementing agency for the development of this greenfield port.
  • Vizhinjam is a natural port near the international ship route. It will also affect existing cargo movement to other ports and will cater to transhipment. Vizhinjam port will co-exist and compete with international ports including ports of Colombo, Singapore and Dubai.

Note: The idea for a port at Vizhinjam was first mooted by Travancore Diwan Ramaswami Ayyar. However the present under-construction port was originally conceived about 25 years ago.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/halting-construction-work-at-vizhinjam-port-not-possible-minister-tells-assembly/article66227276.ece