The Expert Appraisal Committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has recommended the extension in the validity of environmental clearance and coastal regulation zone clearance for the Vizhinjam International Container Transhipment Terminal project – phase I up to January 2, 2026. As of September 2024, about 92 per cent of construction work on the project has been completed.
The progress is as follows:
Dredging and reclamation, container terminal, port operation building, workshop, gas insulated substation, port substation, and security building, water supply, power supply, and other utilities: 100 per cent completed.
Cargo handling equipment, port crafts, navigational aids, and weighbridge: 99 per cent completed.
Land acquisition: 97 per cent completed.
Breakwater: 92 per cent completed.
Fire protection system: 80 per cent completed.
Container yard: 75 per cent completed.
Road connectivity and gate complex: 71 per cent completed.
Besides, rail connectivity and fish landing facilities for the local community are at the planning stage. The balance work which is expected to be completed by January 2026 are balance minor activities of breakwater construction, container yards, fire protection system, road connectivity and gate complex and setting up of a new fish landing facility and amenities for the fishermen, upgradation and adoption of the existing fishing harbour.
The project involves construction of a greenfield, deepwater international container transshipment terminal (ICTT) at Vizhinjam in Kerala on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis for a concession period of 40 years. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 77 billion.