India's 1st transshipment hub inaugurated by PM in Kerala
PM said the port will reduce India's reliance on foreign transshipment hubs where 75% of its transshipments currently happen, in what was an obvious reference to Colombo and Singapore. He added that this shift could boost revenue retention and create new opportunities in Kerala.
The Rs 8,800 crore Vizhinjam project is India's first dedicated transshipment hub with its natural depth of nearly 20 metres allowing large ships to berth, something that is not possible at the smaller ports in the country.
Modi linked the project to India's broader maritime strategy, referring to
Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision
and
India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor
announced at the G20 summit. While the port itself was under development for years, much of the construction and equipment involved private sector collaboration, particularly
Adani Ports
, which is operating the terminal.
In a lighter vein, PM also commented on the role of private investment in the project. "When the people of Gujarat learn that Adani built such a great port in Kerala, after working on a port in Gujarat for 30 years without building anything like this, they'll be upset with him," he said, drawing laughter from the audience.
Highlighting govt's focus on maritime development in past 10 years, Modi mentioned about the 30% reduction in turnaround time of ships at India's major ports. He also said the reformed regulations concerning Indian seafarers, was yielding significant results. While in 2014, the number of Indian seafarers was little over 1.2 lakh, today this has surged beyond 3.2 lakh.
The event, held on the birth anniversary of Adi Shankaracharya - a figure Modi often mentioned - highlighted Kerala's growing importance in India's economic and maritime plans. Modi linked the port's opening to the spiritual legacy of the Kerala-born philosopher, saying his teachings laid the foundation for unity and that Kerala is now being positioned as a key part of India's economic future.
The port was inaugurated at a time when Kerala's economy faces rising debt and limited fiscal space, with the state govt seeking more central assistance. The PM highlighted several infrastructure projects the Centre has supported in the state, including the long-delayed Kollam and Alappuzha bypasses, as well as new investments like the Kochi shipbuilding and repair cluster.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
5 minutes ago
- Hans India
Naxalite couple surrenders before DGP
Vijayawada: Two senior Maoists J Nagaraju,state zonal committee member and incharge of East Bastar divisional committee and his wife M Jogeswari, divisional committee. member surrendered before Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta today. The Naxal couple frustrated with Maoist failures and surrendered before police to join main stream. Nagaraju carries a reward of Rs 20 lakh and Jogeswar has a reward of Rs 5 lakh. The DGP handed over cheques of Rs 20000 each to the couple for immediate relief.
Scroll.in
5 minutes ago
- Scroll.in
India asks citizens to avoid travelling to border areas of Cambodia, Thailand amid clashes
India's embassies in Thailand and Cambodia have asked Indian citizens not to travel to the border areas of the two countries amid clashes between Bangkok and Phnom Penh. The diplomatic mission in Cambodia on Saturday issued an advisory urging Indians to avoid going to the border areas. The embassy also shared emergency contact details for Indian citizens requiring assistance. 'In case of any emergency, Indian nationals may approach the Embassy of India, Phnom Penh at +855 92881676 or email it added. This came a day after the Indian embassy in Thailand advised Indian travellers to check updates issued by Thai authorities. A link to an update shared by the Tourism Authority of Thailand said that 'border zones' had been affected in seven provinces because of restrictions and that martial law had been imposed in select districts. These places are not recommended for travelling, the Indian embassy quoted the Thai tourism authority as saying. The advisories came amid the worst border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia in 13 years. Fighting, which began on Wednesday, has involved heavy artillery, air strikes and rocket fire across several disputed border areas. At least 33 persons have been killed in the conflict. Of the 13 deaths in Cambodia, eight were civilians and five soldiers. In Thailand, six military personnel and 14 civilians were killed, AFP reported. While Bangkok has accused Phnom Penh of targeting civilians and using rockets, Cambodia has condemned Thailand's alleged use of cluster munitions, Reuters reported. The fighting marks a sharp escalation in a long-running dispute between the countries that contest several stretches of land along their border. At least 28 persons had dead in previous clashes between 2008 and 2011. A 2013 United Nations court ruling had largely eased tensions. But the current crisis was triggered in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a fresh clash, AFP reported.
Hans India
5 minutes ago
- Hans India
K'taka: Urea, fertiliser prices rise after surge in demand, farming community in distress
The shortage of urea and other fertilisers in Karnataka has led traders to sell it at double the price, pushing the farming community in the state into distress. Farmers, who were hopeful of a good harvest following favourable rainfall and the early onset of the monsoon this year, are now distraught and staging protests. The situation has further escalated tensions between the Congress-led Karnataka government and the Centre. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilisers, J.P. Nadda, urging him to expedite the supply of 1.65 lakh metric tonnes of urea fertiliser as per the state's allocation, in the interest of the farmers. Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution, and Consumer Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, strongly criticised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, accusing him of misleading the people of Karnataka with false statements regarding fertiliser supply. The Department of Fertilisers (DoF) also issued a clarification, stating that it has ensured the timely and adequate availability of 8.73 lakh metric tonnes of urea to Karnataka against a pro-rata requirement of 6.30 lakh metric tonnes during the ongoing Kharif 2025 season. The state has recorded sales of 7.08 lakh metric tonnes during the same period - well above the pro-rata requirement. The DoF stated that it continues to closely monitor the situation and is coordinating with the state government to ensure Karnataka's farmers have timely access to urea throughout the Kharif season, the DoF stated. Despite this, thousands of farmers are lining up outside shops to procure urea fertiliser for sowing. Urea is a crucial agricultural input as it is the primary source of nitrogen, an essential nutrient for plant growth. It significantly boosts crop yields and improves produce quality by enhancing foliage, chlorophyll synthesis, and overall productivity. Urea is typically applied during sowing and as a top dressing during the crop's vegetative growth phase. Since sowing has already begun following good rainfall, farmers urgently need to apply urea to their fields. Without it, crops may suffer from stunted growth, yellowing of leaves, and significantly reduced yields. Long queues of farmers have been observed at fertiliser shops in hobli, taluk, and district headquarters across Karnataka, especially in the northern part of the state. Due to the shortage, shop owners are rationing the supply, limiting sales to just two 50-kilogram bags per farmer. While urea and other essential fertilisers are also sold at fair price shops, many of these outlets have already run out of stock. There are widespread allegations that private traders are exploiting the crisis by hoarding urea and selling it at inflated prices. Farmers have alleged that even as shopkeepers display 'no stock' boards, they are willing to supply unlimited quantities of urea if buyers are ready to pay Rs 500 per bag, while the actual price ranges between Rs 250 and Rs 300. In the Koppal district, farmers blocked roads in protest against the shortage, while in the Haveri district, they confronted officials over the two-bag limit. In some locations, angry farmers have prevented trucks from offloading urea into shops, demanding direct sales from the vehicles. There are also allegations that traders are hoarding fertiliser stocks to create artificial scarcity and drive up prices. Small and marginal farmers have been the worst affected. They cannot afford the exorbitant rates demanded by black marketeers, but at the same time, they cannot risk losing their crops. The current crisis has also revived memories of a tragic incident in 2008, when a 33-year-old man was killed in police firing during a protest over fertiliser shortages in Haveri district. The firing, meant to disperse the agitated mob, occurred shortly after former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa took office. The incident shook the state government, especially as Yediyurappa had taken his oath in the name of farmers after leading the BJP to power for the first time in South India. Yediyurappa had then blamed the UPA government at the Centre for the fertiliser shortage.
