On Thursday, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that he "managed to land in time" to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is set to inaugurate the Vizhinjam International Seaport. In a post on X, the four-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram mentioned that he could still be present to receive the Prime Minister despite facing delays at what he called a "dysfunctional" Delhi airport. Tharoor shared a photo on X where he is seen shaking hands with Prime Minister Modi in Thiruvananthapuram, as Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan watches. The Congress MP expressed his anticipation for PM Modi's inauguration of the Vizhinjam port, a project he said he had been proudly associated with. 

"Despite delays at the dysfunctional Delhi airport, I managed to land in Thiruvananthapuram in time to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in my constituency. Looking forward to his officially commissioning Vizhinjam port, a project I have been proud to have been involved with since its inception," he stated.

Flight operations at Delhi airport have been delayed due to changing wind directions and the temporary shutdown of one runway for upgrade work. Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which manages the airport, had issued a wind pattern advisory for Wednesday, not Thursday. Meanwhile, Tharoor had commended the Modi government's handling of several matters, including its approach to the Ukraine conflict and diplomatic engagement with former U.S. President Donald Trump. 

Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport in Kerala, describing it as a “symbol of new-age development” and a “big achievement in India’s maritime security.” The ₹8,800-crore project, India’s first deep-water port dedicated to container transhipment, is set to reshape the country’s maritime sector. At the inauguration event in Thiruvananthapuram, which was attended by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, Prime Minister Modi said, “This port will open new opportunities for the people. It marks a significant achievement in India’s maritime capacity.” 

“Until now, nearly 75 per cent of India’s transhipment was handled at foreign ports, leading to considerable revenue loss. But this is set to change,” expressed PM Modi. He noted that spending which earlier boosted foreign economies would now drive growth within the country, opening up new opportunities in Kerala and other coastal regions. PM Modi also highlighted India’s strong maritime legacy, recalling how the nation held a significant portion of the world’s GDP before Independence. “What set us apart from other nations was our maritime strength and thriving port cities. Kerala played a significant role in that legacy,” he said.

The Prime Minister emphasised the need for a coordinated strategy to improve infrastructure and support business growth. He said, “The full potential of the port economy is realised only when infrastructure development and ‘Ease of Doing Business’ are promoted in sync. Over the past decade, this has been the cornerstone of our ports and waterways policy.” He stated that the central government has been steadily working to expand industrial growth near major ports, which helps drive overall regional development. 

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, during his speech, expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for formally inaugurating the port for public use. “On behalf of the people of Kerala, I extend sincere gratitude to the Prime Minister. This is a landmark moment, and I congratulate the Adani Group for executing the project with excellence,” he stated.

At the event, Prime Minister Modi also marked the occasion of Adi Shankaracharya Jayanti. He reflected on his visit to the spiritual leader’s birthplace and said, “I had the honour of unveiling the divine statue of Adi Shankaracharya at Kedarnath Dham. Today, as the doors of the Kedarnath temple reopen, we remember his timeless contributions.”

The Vizhinjam Seaport, developed through a public-private partnership, is being led by the Kerala government in collaboration with Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ). Construction of the port began on December 5, 2015, under Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited, and it is being built using the landlord port model. Located just 10 nautical miles from major international shipping lanes connecting Europe, the Persian Gulf, and the Far East, Vizhinjam is strategically placed to boost India's role in global maritime trade. Its closeness to the East-West shipping corridor is expected to significantly reduce India’s dependence on foreign ports for cargo transhipment, leading to more efficient logistics.