Thiruvananthapuram: Minister for Ports M. Vijayakumar said here on Monday that the proposed international deepwater container terminal at Vizhinjam would become a reality this year.

He was inaugurating a public meeting organised by Janapaksham and the Vizhinjam Mother Port Action Council at Chappath near here to mark the conclusion of a vehicle campaign to seek support for the project.

Nationalist Congress Party leader K. Karunakaran, who presided over the function, stressed the need for the people and the political leadership of the State to close ranks and exert pressure on the Central Government to get the project cleared.

BJP State president P.K. Krishnadas mooted a proposal to tap NRI funds and implement the project with Government guarantee.

The former Ports Minister M.V. Raghavan, Vizhinjam panchayat president Asuntha Mohan, Kottukal panchayat president Sarika and joint convenor of Janapaksham Dominique also addressed the gathering.

Congress leaders were conspicuous by their absence.

Earlier, a colourful procession was taken out from Kowdiar to Chappath.

Scores of cars and two-wheelers took part in the event.

Member of the royal family of erstwhile Travancore Sri Avittom Tirunal Aditya Varma flagged off the procession, which wound its way through the city before reaching Chappath.