Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to commission the Vizhinjam International Seaport on May 2, as confirmed by his office. The port has been operational for commercial purposes since December, handling over 250 vessels and more than 5 lakh TEUs of containers. The delay in the formal inauguration was due to technical issues, which have now been resolved, paving the way for future development.
An agreement was reached between the Centre and the state government regarding the sharing of the Viability Gap Fund (VGF) for the project, with the Centre committing Rs 817.80 crore towards the VGF for Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited (AVPPL). The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change granted environmental clearance for the port’s second and third phases in March. Additionally, a tripartite agreement was signed among the Centre, AVPPL, and the consortium of banks involved, with the state government agreeing to share 20% of the port’s revenue with the Centre.
The Prime Minister’s office has communicated his schedule for the commissioning to the port authorities, with an official announcement from the state government expected soon. The successful trial runs conducted between July and December last year led to the port’s commercial operations. With the resolution of pending matters and agreements in place, the Vizhinjam International Seaport is poised for further growth and development.
