The port’s geographical proximity to key maritime hubs in South Asia, the Southeast and the Middle East affords India an unprecedented geostrategic edge at a time when China is focusing on increasing its presence in the region in the form of naval influence through Hambantota in Sri Lanka and Maldives waters.
Kerala’s Vizhinjam Port is slowly but steadily getting ready. It saw the arrival of the first ships in October 2023. The port is conceived as India’s own mega transshipment hub and is one of the few ports that can accommodate ultra-large container ships. Close to international shipping routes, it is centrally located on the long Indian coastline, with unique advantages, as India’s economy keeps clocking a healthy growth rate.
The port’s geographical proximity to key maritime hubs in South Asia, the Southeast and the Middle East affords India an unprecedented geostrategic edge at a time when China is focusing on increasing its presence in the region in the form of naval influence through Hambantota in Sri Lanka and Maldives waters. The development of a mega port here is a major opportunity for our country.
Why should mainline vessels opt to call at Vizhinjam
During the conceptual stage, I too had a few thoughts in my mind – where is the cargo, what would be the environmental impact, why should mainline vessels opt to call at Vizhinjam, and so on. All this is
behind us now as the port is getting ready for operations.
The government of Kerala established the Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL) in 2004 to
implement this flagship project. VISL’s objectives included procuring land, obtaining environment clearance, selecting a concessionaire, and monitoring the project.
The State Chief Minister is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of VISL. And Shri Pinarayi Vijayan flagged in the first ship carrying the cranes in October last year.
Although primarily a transshipment port, Vizhinjam is expected to bring substantial socio-economic
benefits to the community.
The port, part of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ), now among the biggest port operators of the country, will generate more than 5500 direct and indirect jobs, benefitting the local economy and helping it diversify further. It will further fortify Kerala’s position on the global maritime map, helping Thiruvananthapuram to benefit from tourism and allied industries, developing it into a world-class city and attracting large-scale investments.
Cruise Tourism
A boom in cruise tourism will further strengthen small and medium-sized businesses that operate in the services industry. Vizhinjam could hold the key to India’s maritime trade as the country looks to significantly expand its share in international trade during the Amrit Kaal. The project will have palpable positive impacts that resonate far beyond the state of Kerala.
As is the case with large-scale ports, Vizhinjam will also spur a wave of infrastructure development in the region, with the rail and road connectivity projects. Enterprises will come up in the manufacturing, shipbuilding, fisheries, and logistics sectors, to benefit from its strategic location. The Government of Kerala is setting up a community skill park to provide technical and vocational courses to help individuals gain new skills and expand their existing knowledge.
High automation capabilities of the port
Vizhinjam Port assumes an important position on India’s trade map. It is distinguished by a natural draft
spanning 20-24 meters and an inconspicuous littoral drift.
Fortified with extensive automation capabilities, the port offers large-scale automation for quick turnaround of vessels, allowing it to handle Megamax containerships. Vizhinjam Port’s capacity in phase 1 is expected to be 1 million TEUs (twenty- foot equivalent units) and in subsequent phases, the plan is to add another 6.2 million TEUs.
As is natural with the scale and size of the port, the project will certainly impact the local ecosystem. The right way to assess such projects is to determine whether the overall advantages outweigh the disadvantages. There have been some concerns among environmentalists and local communities about its potential impact on the coastline through soil erosion and livelihood impact.
Coastal Erosion not linked to the port
A series of past and present studies have shed light on the changes in the coastal environment. One of the concerns was regarding the erosion of the coastline occurring 12 kilometers from the project site. Multiple studies have confirmed that this erosion is not linked to the port, but is attributable to factors such as sand mining, certain other construction work, and extreme weather events.
The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) conducted a shoreline change study from 2000 to 2021, which found that erosion spots remained unchanged, indicating that the erosion predated the commencement of the Vizhinjam project.
Another study by a private company spanning over six years till February 2021, specifically focused on
local areas situated 12 kilometers north of the port construction.
The findings concluded that the construction had no discernible effect on erosion in these areas. Further, an analysis by Dr. Clement Lopez, a researcher at the Department of Future Studies, University of Kerala studied the coastline erosion from 1985 to 2022.
The research considered various factors, including the impact of port construction, groynes, climate events, cyclones, and harbor activities. It found no correlation between the port construction and the coastline erosion occurring north of the project site.
Lastly, it is also pertinent to note that a National Green Tribunal (NGT)-appointed independent committee that evaluates the project once every two years, has not found any link between the project and shoreline erosion.
Positive impact on livelihood of fishermen
Another concern of the stakeholders is about the project’s impact on the livelihood of fishermen. A study carried out by Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) concluded that the fish catch of the area has increased by 20% during the last decade.
Recent data collected by CMFRI was compared with the baseline collected during 2011-12 to assess the impact of port construction on fisheries activities.
The total fish catch estimated from June 2021 to May 2022 was 23934 tonnes, which is 3.35 % higher than the baseline catch estimated during 2011-12 (23156 tonnes). These findings negate the charges of the negative impact of port construction on marine life.
Cognizant of apprehensions surrounding livelihoods, the Kerala Government has demonstrated its commitment to social welfare with disbursal of more than Rs. 110 crores under the compensation mechanism for Livelihood Affected Persons (LAPs).
The concerns are bound to stay longer, as any change takes time for acceptance. The project developers and the government should take more proactive steps to involve the community, so that all stakeholders work together for the larger benefit of the society. The Vizhinjam Port project could be the harbinger of Kerala’s economic rejuvenation, ushering in far-reaching benefits on a regional and national scale.