Vizhinjam port has so far served only as an international trans-shipment hub where mother ships from abroad drop off containers and pick them up. But starting August, the port will be able to handle exim cargo from and for India.Though the arrangement comes with several caveats, businesses in Kerala and Tamil Nadu have widely welcomed the move. Being able to access an international mother ship through Vizhinjam would cut cargo transport costs by almost half, traders say.Industry sources have said the official inauguration of exim operations will be third week of August, adding the relevant Customs notification is expected to be issued shortly.Vizhinjam port has not been connected by road or rail for container traffic. A 2-km, six-lane road is coming up to connect to NH 66. Meanwhile, two service roads have been laid along the national highway and a trial run for container trucks conducted recently. Port officials said NHAI officials were happy with the trial run. The infrastructure for customs inspection is also available now. Only a formal notification from the Kerala government is awaited to kickstart operations.A rail link has been planned to connect Vizhinjam to Balaramapuram along the Thiruvananthapuram-Kanniyakumari line. The 9-km rail line is scheduled to be operational when the second phase of the port is completed by 2028.Suppliers say that for now, the port will only handle direct port entry and exit operations since there was no Container Freight Station nearby for customs clearance. But the start of operations itself is a positive sign and could soon lead to full-fledged exim handling by the port. Published - July 17, 2026 08:53 pm IST