Vizhinjam Seaport: NHAI Nears Approval Of Key Road Connectivity As Port Gears Up For Commissioning In December

As the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala prepares for its December commissioning, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is expected to approve a crucial interim road connectivity plan linking the port to National Highway 66 (NH 66).

This plan, along with the design for a permanent cloverleaf road access, is anticipated to receive final approval from NHAI headquarters in New Delhi by November.

The proposal, submitted by the state-owned Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL), outlines both interim and long-term road connectivity strategies. Once the approval is granted, construction of the interim road is set to begin.

A senior VISL official confirmed that container movement via road will likely commence within three months of the port's launch. "Discussions with the NHAI and the Adani Group are in the final stages. The proposal includes cutting a section of the NH 66 median to facilitate U-turns for trucks and creating access points for smooth cargo movement. Safety measures, such as warning signs and boards, will also be put in place at least 1 km ahead on both sides of the highway," the official explained.

Rail Connectivity in the Works

Alongside road connectivity, VISL and the Adani Group are also finalizing plans for interim rail connectivity. Nemom or Balaramapuram railway stations may be converted into container rail terminals (CRT) to manage the flow of goods until a proposed tunnel railway project becomes operational. Nemom, due to its ample space for container storage, is the preferred option, though Neyyattinkara station is also under consideration. Approval from Indian Railways is awaited but expected soon.

VISL has already acquired most of the land needed for road connectivity. Out of the required 42 cents of land, 35.81 cents have been secured. However, the state government will need to acquire an additional 20 acres for the construction of the permanent cloverleaf intersection, a process expected to take two years, according to Economic Times report.

Until the permanent infrastructure is ready, cargo vehicles will use an approach road to travel along the right-side service road of NH 66 before merging onto the highway.

Once the necessary approvals and land acquisitions are finalised, the tender process for the permanent road infrastructure will begin, ensuring long-term connectivity for the seaport.

Vizhinjam is envisaged to be an all-weather, multipurpose, deepwater, mechanised, greenfield port that seeks to garner the lion's share of the Indian transhipment cargo now being handled by the nearby foreign ports and emerge as the future transhipment hub of the country.

Once launched, the port can serve approximately 120 million consumers across five major cities in South India— Chennai, Coimbatore, Bengaluru, Tirunelveli, and Thoothukudi — all within 18 to 24 hours by road or rail.

Additionally, once full operations commence and rail connectivity is established, the port will cater to another 220 million consumers in Hyderabad, Vizag, and Goa, cities reachable within 48 hours.