Vizhinjam port expansion: work on Phases II–IV begins, longest container berth in India planned
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated capacity augmentation works (Phases II, III and IV) of Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram on 24 January 2026.
Summary
Ports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, inaugurated the capacity augmentation works of Vizhinjam International Seaport, marking the start of Phases II, III and IV. The existing berth will be extended into a continuous 2-km container berth, the longest in India, and the breakwater extended to 3.88 km. Phase I began commercial operations on 3 December 2024 with a design capacity of 1 million TEUs and has handled over 1.43 million TEUs. The works follow a Supplementary Concession Agreement of November 2024 between the Government of Kerala and Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd, advancing the timeline by nearly 17 years with completion targeted by December 2028.
Key facts
- Inaugurated
- 24 January 2026, by Sarbananda Sonowal, with CM Pinarayi Vijayan
- Works
- Phases II, III and IV
- Berth
- Continuous 2-km container berth — longest in India
- Breakwater
- Extended to 3.88 km
- Phase I
- Commercial operations from 3 December 2024; 1 million TEU design; over 1.43 million TEUs handled
- Concessionaire
- Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd; completion target December 2028
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Under the Vizhinjam port capacity augmentation, the container berth will be extended to a continuous length of about:
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 2 km
PIB (Shipping): the existing berth will become a continuous 2-km container berth, the longest in India; the breakwater will be extended to 3.88 km.
Vizhinjam International Seaport, whose Phase II–IV works began in January 2026, is located in which state?
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Correct answer: C — Kerala
PIB: the port is at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Consider the following about Vizhinjam International Seaport: 1. Phase I began commercial operations on 3 December 2024. 2. Phase I has a design capacity of 1 million TEUs. 3. Completion of the expansion is targeted by December 2030. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB: Phase I started on 3 December 2024 with a design capacity of 1 million TEUs; the expansion's completion is targeted by December 2028, not 2030.