The Kerala government has begun work on a new fishing harbour at Vizhinjam as part of a Rs 510 crore package covering harbour construction, modernisation of the existing facility and an extension to its breakwater. Chief minister V D Satheesan laid the foundation stone for the new harbour on Friday and said the state would address issues affecting the fishing community.
The new Vizhinjam fishing harbour has been allocated Rs 260 crore. It is among the development initiatives announced in connection with the Vizhinjam International Seaport project and is intended to provide improved infrastructure for fishing vessels and better facilities for fishermen involved in fishing and related activities.
According to the details reported by the Times News Network, the project will include a dedicated wharf for berthing fishing boats, lockers for storing fishing nets and equipment, and an office complex. The planned facility will also have infrastructure for fish processing and storage, including refrigeration systems designed to help preserve the catch.
The project package includes the construction of a smaller breakwater measuring around 135 metres alongside the main breakwater of the international port. The harbour will also receive a toilet complex, a wide access road connecting it with the main road network, a drinking water supply system and a solar power plant.
The works are being taken forward alongside a modernisation project for the existing fishing harbour and the proposed extension of its breakwater. Together, the projects represent an attempt to provide separate and more functional facilities for fishing activity in an area undergoing major port-led development.
Speaking at the foundation ceremony, Satheesan said the state government was committed to supporting the fishing community and ensuring that its concerns were addressed. He also said the government would introduce better academic facilities for the children of fisherfolk, with the aim of improving their access to education and other essential services.
The announcement places fishing infrastructure within the wider development framework around Vizhinjam International Seaport. While the new harbour is intended to improve berthing, storage, processing and access arrangements, the supplied project details do not specify a construction completion date, the implementation agency or the timeline for individual components. The next stages will therefore involve taking forward the harbour, breakwater, access and utility works under the announced Rs 510 crore package.
