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New Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
M V Raghavan deserves credit for Vizhinjam port, says first VISL CEO Jayakumar
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: At a time when the Congress is claiming former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy as the architect of the Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL), the first CEO of VISL -- Dr Jayakumar -- has said that the credit must go to former Ports Minister M V Raghavan for having worked tirelessly to realise the dream. 'M V Raghavan, as ports minister, was the mastermind behind realising a detailed project report for the port project and forming a company,' Jayakumar told TNIE. 'Credit must also go to this LDF government and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for implementing the project overcoming all obstacles, like cyclone Ockhi, floods, and arbitration.' MVR had handpicked Jayakumar, who has an MTech and a doctorate in ocean engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, while working with the harbour engineering department. He said the idea of developing a deep water port at Vizhinjam evolved during the period of 1994-95, at the time of the Karunakaran-led UDF government. 'MVR was the ports minister. The harbour engineering department submitted a project report in March 1995. An MoU was signed with Kumar Energy Corporation on a BOT basis to implement the project. However, due to a lack of progress, it was later cancelled,' Jayakumar said. In the 2000-2005 UDF government led by A K Antony, MVR was again put in charge of ports. 'For the first time, a DPR was prepared for the development of Vizhinjam with private sector participation. That has worked as the base project report till now. It was under MVR's initiative that a special purpose vehicle (SPC) under the Company Act was formed. Later, the SPC was converted to VISL and I was appointed the first CEO,' he said. Further, Jayakumar said the first global notification for the development of the port was issued on January 19, 2005, by the UDF government. 'Though the state government approved a bid by a consortium led by Kaidi Electrical Power Company, China, and Gamon India Private Ltd in February 2006, the then Congress-led government at the Centre denied security clearance. Had the Union government given security clearance, the port would have materialised then,' he said. Jayakumar also said that it was a big surprise for him when the Chief Minister's Office called him in 2016 after the Pinarayi Vijayan government assumed office. 'I had already taken voluntary retirement from service and was not part of VISL. But the CM asked me whether I would like to work as the CEO of VISL. I said yes as it was a passion for me. The LDF government has successfully implemented the project without losing further revenue to the state and by avoiding arbitration. The credit of executing the project rests with this government,' he added.
Hans India
02-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Vizhinjam International Seaport: India's 1st automated deep-sea port set to transform maritime trade
The idea and efforts of establishing a deep-sea port at Vizhinjam dates back to 1991. Over the years, multiple attempts were made to initiate the project, but it faced several challenges, including security concerns and legal disputes related to bidding and lack of investor interest. In August 2015, the Kerala government signed an agreement with Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd (APSEZ) to develop the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Seaport under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. This marked a significant step towards realising the long-standing vision of a world-class port in the region. Following the unsuccessful attempts of 1995, 2004, 2008 and 2010, the state government in 2014, recognising the standalone financial viability of the project, structured the project with viability gap funding (VGF) assistance from the Central government and substantial financial support from state government. Adani Ports emerged as the sole selected bidder and was awarded the project in 2015. The agreement granted Adani a 40-year concession to build, operate, and transfer the port, with a provision for a 20-year extension. However, the execution of the Vizhinjam Port project was fraught with challenges. Cyclone Ockhi in 2017 caused significant damage to the construction, particularly the breakwater, leading to delays. A scarcity of essential construction materials, especially limestone, further hampered progress. Agitations resulting from apprehension related to Coastal Erosion and livelihood loss. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains and labour availability, contributing to further delays. Despite these obstacles, the Adani Group persisted, overcoming all challenges with patience and maturity, and continued to work towards project completion. As of May 2025, the Vizhinjam International Seaport stands as a testament to India's maritime ambitions: The port commenced trial operations in July 2024, receiving its first mothership, the San Fernando. In September 2024 and April 2025, it welcomed the MSC Claude Girarde and MSC Turkiye, listed among world's ultra large container vessels and largest vessels ever visited an Indian Port. Since start operation, the Port has handled more than 280 vessels and 6 Lakh TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units). The port boasts a natural deep draft of 18m close to shore that requires no capital dredging. Vizhinjam can leverage its natural depth to host even ultra-large next-gen container ships requiring 20m+ drafts. It features India's tallest ship-to-shore cranes and is equipped with AI-powered vessel traffic management systems. Situated just 10 nautical miles from the international east–west shipping route, Vizhinjam is poised to become a pivotal transshipment hub, reducing India's reliance on ports like Colombo, Singapore, and Dubai. The port is expected to significantly lower logistics costs for Indian manufacturers by 30-40 per cent, enhancing the country's export competitiveness. With plans to increase capacity to 5 million TEUs by 2028 with latest technology, the port is set to play a crucial role in India's maritime infrastructure. Working closely with the state government and the Central government, the Adani Group has already invested over Rs 4,500 crore in the Vizhinjam International Seaport project. As India's first automated port, Vizhinjam is setting new benchmarks in port management and operations. The Adani Group is expected to invest another Rs 20,000 crore in the project's upcoming phases, creating more than 5,000 jobs and boosting the local economy to unprecedented heights.
The Hindu
24-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
CM promises to make Sabarimala airport a reality
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday reiterated the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government's commitment to make the Sabarimala Greenfield Airport project a reality, which would significantly boost regional connectivity and the local economy. Addressing a district-level meeting in Pathanamthitta to mark the fourth anniversary of his government, Mr. Vijayan underscored the resilience of the State, which had overcome significant adversities. 'We had faced challenges, including the Nipah outbreak, Cyclone Ockhi, 2018 floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Kerala has not only survived these challenges but has emerged stronger with commendable developments,' he said. He also highlighted the achievements in education and health care as key markers of progress. Schools in the State had been provided high-tech facilities and the dropout rate had plummeted, he said. The State's health-care sector had been revitalised and the State's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic drew national and international attention. 'In our hospitals, even those aged over 100 years received treatment during the pandemic. At the same time, we ensured that essential facilities such as ventilators were in place when other States struggled,' he said. NH work Highlighting the government's focus on infrastructure, he noted that ₹5,600 crore had been allocated for land acquisition for national highways (NH) and projects like the GAIL pipeline and the Edamon-Kochi power highway were completed. The government also constructed 4.5 lakh houses under the LIFE Mission and increased social welfare pensions from ₹600 in 2016 to ₹1,600. Kerala had also enhanced its ease of doing business, becoming an industry-friendly State by streamlining labour and environmental compliance, he said. The shift to online services had significantly reduced bureaucratic delays. He also criticised the Union government for 'systemically eroding the State's fiscal space to halt development' and highlighted the reduction in net borrowing limits and the lack of Central support during disasters. 'Despite these hurdles, Kerala has made strides by uniting people and resources,'' he said. As the State prepares to declare itself free of extreme poverty by November 2025, the Chief Minister also asserted that Kerala's progress in multiple sectors would serve as a model for the nation. Health Minister Veena George delivered the presidential address.
