Construction of Vizhinjam port to start on December 5

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate construction of Vizhinjam International Transshipment Terminal on December 5.

Union Minister for Ports Nitin Gadkari will be the Chief Guest at the function to be held at Vizhinjam at 4.30 pm. Chairman of Adani Ports Gautam Adani will make the introductory remarks.

Dredging for the port has already begun and construction of pulimuttu (pier made of stone or tetrapods) will begin soon after the inauguration. Concession agreement with M/s Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Ltd for the development of the port was signed on August 17, 2015.

The project is estimated to cost about Rs 7,525 crore. The Government and the Adani group are planning to make the seaport operational in a record time of less than 1,000 days. The Centre will provide a viability gap funding of about 800 crores.

The basic infrastructure development for the project was inaugurated as back as in 2010, but signing of execution of contract for development of the project had been delayed.

The State government has already acquired 90 per cent of the land required for the project. Work is also underway for road and rail connectivity. Electrical and water supply lines are being established.

The sea at Vizhinjam is having a depth of 20 metres and the port, once developed, is expected to attract big vessels with capacities ranging from 1300-1800 TEU (Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit).

Update (Dec. 1)

Minister for Excise and Ports K. Babu said on Tuesday that 203 acres had been acquired for the project. 23 acre remained to be acquired. A package of Rs. 475 crore had been sanctioned for people directly or indirectly affected by the project.