The Union Cabinet has granted approval for the establishment of a Major Port at Vadhvan near Dahanu in Maharashtra. This project will be executed by Vadhvan Port Project Ltd (VPPL), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), with shareholding stakes of 74 per cent and 26 per cent respectively.
The Vadhvan Port, located in Palghar District, Maharashtra, will be developed as an all-weather Greenfield deep draft Major Port on the ‘Land Lord’ model. Speaking on this momentous occasion, Unmesh Sharad Wagh, Chairman, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority commented, “As we set sail towards the development of the Vadhvan port, it brings us immense pride and eager anticipation to unveil the collaborative effort between the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and the Maharashtra Maritime Board. This alliance aims to cater to the burgeoning maritime traffic, marking the dawn of a new chapter filled with growth and opportunities. The project will be implemented by Vadhvan port Project Ltd a SPV of JNPA and MMB. We express our sincere gratitude to Hon’ble Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports Shipping and Waterways, and Hon’ble Secretary T K Ramachandran, Ministry of Ports Shipping and Waterways for their leadership and guidance for charting the course of the port.”
The total project cost, including land acquisition, is estimated at Rs 76,220 crore. This includes the development of core infrastructure, terminals, and other commercial facilities under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The port infrastructure will feature nine container terminals, each 1,000 m in length, four multipurpose berths, four liquid cargo berths, a Ro-Ro berth, a coastal cargo berth, and a Coast Guard berth. The project will reclaim 1,448 hectare in the offshore area and construct 10.14 km of breakwater, along with container/cargo storage areas.
Additionally, the cabinet has approved the establishment of road connectivity between the port and national highways by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and rail linkage to the existing rail network and the upcoming Dedicated Rail Freight Corridor by the Ministry of Railways (MoR).
India’s trade policies and maritime transport sector developments have led to significant growth in containerisation. The Vadhvan Port will augment national container handling capacity by 23.2 million TEUs and facilitate the docking of mega container vessels capable of carrying 24,000 TEUs. With its development, India is poised to join the ranks of the top 10 container ports globally. The port will also enhance EXIM trade flow through the India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the International North South Transportation Corridor (INSTC).
The Vadhvan Port project emphasises environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. As a ‘greenfield’ initiative, it aims to minimise disruption to local ecosystems through meticulous planning and consultation. The port will adopt renewable energy sources and ensure that only electric or green fuel transport vehicles are used within the port ecosystem. The goal is to achieve a zero-emission port, setting new benchmarks for sustainable port development in India.
The development of the Vadhvan Port will create substantial employment opportunities, both during construction and operational phases. The project is expected to generate direct and indirect employment for over 10,00,000 individuals. Additionally, the local youth will benefit from skill development programs, and fishermen affected by the project will be compensated as per state government policies. The port’s strategic location will facilitate container traffic, boost economies of scale, and reduce logistics costs, thereby addressing the EXIM needs of industries in Vapi, Indore, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
Unmesh Wagh added, “The strategic placement of the Vadhvan port will facilitate the call of container traffic. The port will bridge international and Indian coasts that will accelerate the economies of scale and mitigate the logistics cost. Moreover, the port will also address the EXIM needs of industries situated in Vapi, Indore, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. The vision under Amrit Kaal 2047 to develop a mega Port with 300MTPA will be fulfilled by Vadhvan Port.”