Vizhinjam International Seaport off Kerala, India, will not be operational even by 2025, says study

The arrival of the first ‘ship’ at the Vizhinjam International Seaport off Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the south Indian state of Kerala, in October 2023 created a flutter with the Kerala government and politicians, cutting across party lines, taking credit for the state’s big infrastructure
development.

The ‘ship’ from China, which docked at Vizhinjam on October 15, carried a gantry crane to handle containers for the under-construction port. But it created a public wrong impression that actual cargo movements have begun at the much-publicized sea port.

An extensive study, released on 21 November, World Fisheries Day, attempts to bust the government’s claims about the completion of the port’s construction. The report, prepared by prominent scientists, disaster management experts and social scientists under the banner of the Janakeeya Padana Smithi (People’s Study Panel), comprehensively analyses the Vizhinjam issue besides providing long-term remedial measures.

Examining the availability of various facilities that need to be in place before a seaport becomes operational, the report states that the Vizhinjam port will not be ready for full-fledged operations even by 2025.

It states that just completing the breakwater to provide berthing facilities for vessels does not mean that the port is ready for commercial operations. A submission to the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) by the Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited on August 24, 2023 stated that the breakwater construction is only 62 per cent complete, though the work began eight years ago. It also stated that the project’s Phase 1 will be completed in December 2024, which is five years behind the schedule.

A commercial transshipment seaport terminal requires a comprehensive and integrated approach, encompassing not only berths and anchorage but also a range of infrastructure, equipment, services and regulatory compliance measures to facilitate efficient and secure cargo handling, storage and transportation. These facilities are not yet ready at Vizhinjam.

To launch commercial operations, the port should have:

1. Berths and wharfs to facilitate loading and unloading the cargo
2. Navigational aids to ensure safe navigation for vessels entering and
   exiting the port and maintain proper channel depth to
   accommodate larger vessels and prevent groundings
3. Safe anchoring areas for vessels to wait before entering the port
4. Adequate cargo handling equipment, such as cranes, forklifts and
   conveyor system for efficient loading and unloading of containers

    

5. Container yards and warehouses for temporary storage of cargo
   before it is further transported to its destination.
6. Customs and inspection facilities
7. Security measures
8. Efficient road, rail and air connectivity to and from the port for
   seamless movement of cargo to the hinterlands
9. Trained and skilled personnel for operating the port effectively
10. Environmental regulations to mitigate potential environmental
    impact.

    So, the panel notes that the high-profile inauguration of the port in October, after
    spending Rs 66 lakh, is akin to opening a shopping mall while its shelves are
    being built.

Eminent historian Ramachandra Guha will release the report in Thiruvananthapuram on World Fisheries Day on November 21.