(THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM)
Mumbai, June 20, 2024 – The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for setting up a Major Port at Vadhvan near Dahanu in Maharashtra by Vadhvan Port Project Limited (VPPL) an SPV formed by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) with a shareholding of 74% and 26% respectively. The Vadhvan Port will be developed as an all-weather Greenfield deep draft Major Port at Vadhvan, Palghar District, Maharashtra on ‘Land Lord’ model.

Speaking on this momentous occasion, Chairman of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, Unmesh Sharad Wagh 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 Limited a SPV of JNPA and MMB. We express our sincere gratitude to Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports Shipping and Waterways, and Secretary T K Ramachandran, Ministry of Ports Shipping and Waterways for their leadership and guidance for charting the course of the port.”

Vadhvan Port Outlay
The total project cost, including the component of land acquisition, is ₹ 76,220 Cr. This will include core infrastructure, Terminals and other commercial infrastructure in PPP Mode and The Port infrastructure comprises of 9 container terminals, each of 1000 meters length, 4 multipurpose berths, 4 liquid cargo berths, a Ro-Ro berth, a coastal cargo berth and a Coast Guard berth. The project involves reclamation of 1,448 hectares in offshore area and construction of 10.14 kms of breakwater, container/cargo storage areas. The cabinet also approved the establishing road connectivity between the Port and National Highways by MoRTH and rail linkage to existing rail network and the upcoming Dedicated Rail Freight Corridor by MoR.
India’s trade policies and the maritime transport sector developments have resulted in high growth of containerization in the country. India’s maritime sector is set to transform with a comprehensive roadmap launched during the Global Maritime India Summit. The Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, formulated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, builds on the Maritime India Vision 2030 and aims to develop world-class ports and promote inland water transport, coastal shipping, and a sustainable maritime sector. The capacity in three major container handling ports in the west coast will be fully utilised by 2029 and capacity requirements to the extent of 24 million TEU’s and this capacity is expected to be met from Vadhvan port.
The proposed deep draft all-weather Major Port at Vadhvan will augment the national container handling capacity by 23.2 million TEUs and will facilitate calling of mega size container vessels capable of carrying 24,000 TEUs. With the development of Vadhvan port, India will be one among top 10 container ports in the World. The capacities created will also aid EXIM trade flow through IMEC (India Middle East Europe Economic corridor) and INSTC (International North South Transportation Corridor). The world class maritime terminal facilities, promote public private partnerships (PPP), leverage efficiencies and modern technologies to create state of the art terminal facilities capable of handling mainline mega vessels plying on international shipping lanes between Far East, Europe, Middle-East, Africa and Americas.

Green Port Initiative
At the heart of this project lies a commitment to environmental stewardship. The development of the Vadhvan port is envisaged as a “greenfield” initiative, emphasizing sustainable practices and minimal disruption to local ecosystems. Through meticulous planning and consultation, we strive to achieve harmony between progress and conservation. The proposed port at Vadhvan aims to integrate sustainable solutions, ranging from renewable energy adoption to efficient port operations like shore power for ships and only electrical or green fuel transport vehicles will be allowed in Port ecosystem. By embracing green initiatives and innovative technologies, VPPL aspire to set new benchmarks for port development in India by being a zero emission Port, ushering in a sustainable and prosperous future.

The project development will create employment opportunities and aid in skilling of the local youth both during construction and operationalisation of the terminals and fishermen whose livelihood will be adversely affected will be compensated as per State Govt policies. The Project will add to further economic activity and also have potential for direct and indirect employment opportunities for more than 10,00,000 individuals directly and indirectly.
Talking about the myriads advantages of the Vadhvan port, Mr..Wagh stated, “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.