Vizhinjam Port will control goods movement in the country; will end dependency on Colombo Port

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Once the construction of Vizhinjam Port is complete, the port will become the focal point of India’s export and import. It will turn out to be the port where huge motherships can harbor. With this, we can save up to Rs.4000 crores that we use to give to ports like Colombo every year.

Last year India imported goods worth $61,500 and exported $47,000 crores of goods. For this, all our government-owned 12 ports and Adani-run 12 ports had to depend on the port in Colombo.

The only revenue for a port comes from handling charges of containers. To move one container can get up to Rs.10,000. It will provide direct jobs to 10,000 persons. Goods from Africa can now be brought directly to Vizhinjam rather than being taken to Colombo, Singapore, or Dubai, and then bringing it here on feeder ships.

Plywood, clay plates, slippers, textiles, shrimp, processed cashew nuts, etc. will be exported from Vizhinjam. Adani has brought eight huge cranes from Shanghai for moving goods. The cranes that costs Rs.80 crore each will reach by May.

The Vizhinjam port can usher in local development and urbanization of the area. It will also boost the tourism sector and also help the smaller ports such as Kollam, Beypore, etc. to rake in more business by transporting goods to and from Vizhinjam.