THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The capital city will get a major facelift when the Vizhinjam port project will become a reality. This is the first port project in India undertaken as a public-private venture. When the first phase of the project will be completed under a cost of Rs 7,700 crore, the port will gain the capacity to handle 1 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent) containers. The present berth capacity of 800 meters will be enhanced to 2,000 metres. Thus, the total capacity of the port will reach 3 million TEU. Rs 4,800 crores will be procured through a public-private partnership, Rs 1463 crores will be spent on breakwaters and Rs 1808 crores will be spent on infrastructure development and for land reclamation. Rs 340 crore is earmarked for rehabilitation.

The central government will give Rs 818 crore under the viability gap funding. State govt will also spend an equal amount. The private partner of the project, Adani Vizhinjam Port Limited will also procure Rs 2,454 crore from investors. Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited is the special purpose vehicle for the project. When the project is completed, lions share of the Indian transhipment project based on Colombo port could be transferred to Vizhinjam. This is considered as a good opportunity by the Indian exporters and importers. When transhipment starts in full swing with Dubai, Colombo, Salala and Singapore, Vizhinjam could reap at least Rs 1,500 crores in foreign earnings. As a natural port, Vizhinjam has certain conducive factors like proximity of just 10 miles with international waters and a natural depth of 18 meters. If the project is realised, many new and related job sectors will come up in the capital city offering thousands of jobs.

The project will be a boon to Thiruvananthapuram’s economy as many new related projects will come up in the sectors of drinking water distribution, shipping agency, logistics, transportation services, godowns, water vessels maintenance, electricity distribution, residential facilities, hotel and tourism projects, training facilities etc.

Adani has set a deadline of 1460 days to complete the project but still many things are left undone. The construction of an important building in connection with the port has been completed. The building spans over an area of 2,300 sq. km. The essential activities of the port will be regulated from here.

The port needs breakwater which should have a length of 3.1 km. When the construction reached 600 meters, About 150 meters was destroyed in Ockhi cyclone which is yet to be reconstructed. Many related projects like the ring road, highway development and projects in Thiruvananthapuram airport would accelerate Thiruvanathapuram’s development.