First ship to touch Vizhinjam in September; more job opportunities for locals

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finance minister K N Balagopal has asserted that the state government will work its way to make Vizhajam port to par with the best of the ports in the world. In the first phase of development, Rs 6600 crores will be allotted. A 66-kilometer-long ring road will be constructed from Vizhinjam to National Highway 66 in Navaikulam via Thekkada, and for this, another Rs 5000 crores will be spent. The industrial corridor connecting Vizhinjam was in talks for a long time, and will be a reality soon, commented the minister. He also said that the first ship will touch the port by September of this year. But Adani international seaport limited will only see profits by the financial year of 2029-30. During that financial year, the port will collect Rs 1114 crores of which Rs 129 crores will go as profit for Adani. For the locals near Vizhanjam, there are reasons to rejoice. During the first phase, 2000 people will get jobs. The locals can also serve as guides with lucrative pay.