56% of Vizhinjam port jobs filled by locals

Thiruvananthapuram: Ports minister VN Vasavan announced in the assembly that 56% of jobs at Vizhinjam port have been given to local residents. The government originally promised that 50% of the jobs would go to locals, but they have exceeded that goal. For better rail connectivity to Vizhinjam, the government plans to acquire 5.526 hectares of land, costing around Rs 1,482 crore. This project will include a 10.2 km rail route, with 9.2 km of it being a tunnel. So far, 215 ships have docked at Vizhinjam, handling a total of 4.22 TEUs of cargo. In February, Vizhinjam became the top port in India by managing 72,826 TEUs of cargo from 40 ships. Customs facilities are being prepared to start container movement within the next four months. A skill training center by ASAP has opened in Vizhinjam, and the first group of trainees is already working. Phases II and III of the Vizhinjam port development are set to finish by 2028. New facilities for passenger cargo shipments are planned, and there is interest from small ship repair businesses to offer services for larger ships at the port. Preliminary talks are ongoing with Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL) and the Kerala Maritime Board to establish required facilities for these enterprises. The minister mentioned that the potential for joint sector institutions at Vizhinjam's minor port is also being considered.