Vizhinjam was the center of violent protests only a few years ago. Particularly among the young people in this seaside community, it is now being discussed as a sign of possibility and advancement.

The Vizhinjam International Seaport was formally opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. The local fishing community had previously opposed the project. For many of those same residents, it still serves as a source of employment and pride today.

“Who wouldn’t want a good job in their hometown?” questioned Rahul, a young man from the fishing village, as he left the dock in his uniform and safety helmet. Thirty-five percent of port workers are from Vizhinjam, including him. Many others aspire to be like him.

The port has gradually altered local perceptions. Life in Vizhinjam came to a complete halt for more than four months due to years of protests that were backed by the local Church. Only after meeting with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who promised jobs and development, were the strikes canceled. Those promises are now starting to come true. “This port is a game changer,” stated Roshin, another young local who is currently employed at the port. The majority of the young people here could only go fishing. Their future has changed. Priority recruiting for local youngsters must be given, the Kerala government had stated in its deal with the Adani Group.

In order to facilitate this, the Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP) established a Community Skill Park in Vizhinjam that provides training specific to port occupations. The hiring of nine local women to operate cranes is one of the most significant advances. These ladies now operate the enormous Cantilever Rail Mounted Gantry cranes that unload containers from ships after receiving training at the nearby skill center. Port officials claim that no Indian port has ever assigned women to such a position before.

There is more to training. There are presently 150 young people getting training at the skill park, and two groups of intermodal truck drivers who received training there have already been hired. The general director of a port mooring company, Manoj Nair, stated that they have already engaged 24 locals and intend to hire more as the port grows.

“This port will change not just Vizhinjam but all of Kerala,” he stated. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), the largest port developer in India and a member of the Adani Group, created the deep-water port in a public-private collaboration. The expected cost of the project’s completion was Rs 8,867 crore.

With over 100,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) handled monthly, Vizhinjam topped the list of ports on India’s western and southern coasts for container cargo handling in early 2025. When Vizhinjam berthed the MSC Turkey, one of the biggest cargo ships to ever arrive in India, it was a significant turning point. The second stage of construction is anticipated to be finished by 2028, allowing the port to handle at least 3 million TEUs annually. Adani Ports will provide all of the funding for this phase, which will cost Rs 10,000 crore.