Vizhinjam


Vizhinjam is a village known as the "Emperor of the Arabian Sea", located near Kovalam in south Kerala, India. It has a population of 20,714. Adani Ports, India’s biggest private port operator, is currently developing the Adani Vizhinjam Port at Vizhinjam.
As per historians, Vizhinjam, located at the extreme south-western tip of South Asia, served as an important port throughout the history of the region. The location is economically and geopolitically significant as a key point connecting the shipping between Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
An international port at Vizhinjam was conceived as early as 1991. In August 2015, the Kerala government and Adani Vizhinjam Port, representing the Adani Group, signed the agreement for the Adani Vizhinjam project. AVPL was the only bidder for the project.
As per the details of the agreement, Adani Group is free to operate the Vizhinjam port for 40 years. The Kerala state government will start getting a portion of the revenue from the port after 15 years. The project also includes 360 acres of land and a railway line. The deadline for the commission of Phase I, Adani Vizhinjam Port was fixed on December 4, 2019 in the 2015 agreement.
The entire Vizhinjam project was valued at around Rs. 75.25 billion. The AVPL had requested a Rs 16.35 billion grant for the project from the Kerala state government.
The project commenced on December 5, 2015. AVPL had announced that the "first ship will berth at Vizhinjam" on September 1, 2018. The AVPL is currently seeking an extension of the Phase I commission deadline to October 2020 from the Kerala government.
As per a Reuters report, China had also wanted to partner with an un-named Indian company to build the port, but its overture was rejected by New Delhi on grounds of national security. It is speculated that the port will have berths for India's navy and coastguard.

Transport

Regular buses operate in Vizhinjam from the City Bus Stand at East Fort, Trivandrum and as well as from the Central Bus Stand at Thampanoor, Trivandrum. Cabs can be also hired at the bus stations.