The Vadhvan Port will be built as an all-weather Greenfield deep draft Major Port in Vadhvan, Palghar District, Maharashtra, using the ‘Land Lord’ model.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment of a Major Port at Vadhvan near Dahanu in Maharashtra by Vadhvan Port Project Limited (VPPL), an SPV formed by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), with 74 percent and 26 percent shareholdings, respectively. 

Speaking on this significant occasion, the Chairman of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, Unmesh Sharad Wagh, stated, “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 Hon’ble Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports Shipping and Waterways, and Hon’ble Secretary Shri T K Ramachandran, Ministry of Ports Shipping and Waterways for their leadership and guidance in charting the course of the port.”

Vadhvan port outlay
The total project cost, including land purchase, is ₹ 76,220 crore. This will contain core infrastructure, terminals, and additional commercial infrastructure in PPP mode. The Port infrastructure consists of nine container terminals, each 1000 metres long, four multipurpose berths, four liquid cargo berths, a Ro-Ro dock, a coastal freight berth, and a Coast Guard berth. The project entails reclaiming 1,448 hectares of offshore land and building 10.14 kilometres of breakwater and container/cargo storage spaces.  The cabinet also approved MoRTH’s efforts to develop road connectivity between the Port and National Highways, as well as rail linkage to the existing rail network and the planned Dedicated Rail Freight Corridor.

India’s trade policies and maritime transport sector improvements have resulted in rapid containerisation in the country. The Global Maritime India Summit announced a comprehensive roadmap for India’s maritime sector, which will revolutionise it. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways developed the Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, which builds on the Maritime India Vision 2030 and aspires to establish world-class ports while also promoting inland water transit, coastal shipping, and a sustainable maritime industry.  The capacity of three major container handling ports on the west coast will be fully utilised by 2029, with capacity requirements of 24 million TEUs estimated to be reached by Vadhvan.

The projected deep draft all-weather Major Port at Vadhvan will increase national container handling capacity by 23.2 million TEUs and allow mega-sized container boats capable of transporting 24,000 TEUs to dock. With the construction of Vadhvan Port, India will become one of the top ten container ports in the world. The expanded capacity would also help EXIM commerce flow through IMEC (India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor) and INSTC (International North South Transportation Corridor). World-class maritime terminal facilities encourage public-private partnerships (PPP), leverage efficiencies, and modern technologies to create cutting-edge terminal facilities capable of handling mainline mega vessels plying international shipping lanes between the Far East, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas.

Green port initiative
This project is based on a dedication to environmental care. The Vadhvan port is planned as a “greenfield” venture, with a focus on sustainable techniques and little harm to local ecosystems. We seek for a balance between advancement and conservation through thorough planning and consultation. The proposed Vadhvan port aspires to combine sustainable solutions, ranging from renewable energy adoption to efficient port operations such as shore power for ships, and only electric or green fuel vehicles will be permitted in the Port ecosystem. By adopting green initiatives and innovative technologies, VPPL aims to set new standards for port development in India by becoming a zero-emission port, ushering in a more sustainable and prosperous future.

The project development will offer job opportunities and assist in the skilling of local youth both during the building and operation of the terminals, and fishermen whose livelihoods will be negatively impacted will be compensated following State Government laws. The Project will stimulate additional economic activity while also providing direct and indirect employment possibilities for over 10,00,000 people.

Speaking about the several benefits of the Vadhvan port, Mr Wagh remarked, “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 economies of scale and mitigate 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.”