A media delegation from Odisha, on an official Press Information Bureau (PIB) tour, met Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and visited the newly operational Vizhinjam International Seaport, gaining first-hand insights into the state’s governance model and India’s emerging maritime powerhouse.
During a warm and wide-ranging interaction at Raj Bhavan, Governor Arlekar highlighted Kerala’s strong performance in health and education as a shining example of inclusive governance. “Kerala’s progress in health and education reflects the strength of inclusive governance,” he said, pointing to the state’s consistent top rankings in human development indicators and its landmark achievement of 100 per cent literacy.
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The Governor also spoke about Kerala’s rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and high standards of cleanliness, describing them as integral to the state’s identity. Recalling his earlier association with Odisha, he extended warm greetings to the visiting journalists and exchanged views on democratic governance, public administration, and cooperative federalism.
Later, the delegation was taken to Vizhinjam International Seaport, which has just completed one year of commercial operations. Officials briefed the journalists on the port’s world-class infrastructure: a natural depth of 18–20 metres, ability to handle Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) with minimal dredging, semi-automated operations, and strategic location just 10 nautical miles from the busy East-West international shipping route.
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Positioned as India’s first major deep-water transhipment hub, Vizhinjam is expected to significantly strengthen the country’s role in global maritime trade and reduce dependence on foreign ports for transhipment.
The delegation also called on Additional Director General, PIB Thiruvananthapuram, V. Palanichamy, and discussed the role of PIB in supporting field-based, informed journalism. The team was accompanied by Manoj Kumar Jali, Deputy Director, and Swadhin Shakti Prasad, Media & Communication Officer, PIB Bhubaneswar.
