Vadhavan Port?Construction, India's Largest Port Project, to Kick Off

On 30 August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will break ground for India's biggest port project at Vadhavan near Dahanu in Maharashtra's Palghar district, marking the launch of India's largest port project. The project marks a significant milestone in India's infrastructure development and represents a major step forward in the country's role in global shipping and trade.

Vadhavan Port Construction, India's Biggest Port Project, Braces for Launch

On June 20, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Modi approved the plan to construct a major all-weather port in Vadhavan, in a bid to bolster India's growing maritime demands and enhance its presence on the global stage.

To achieve this ambitious goal, Vadhvan Port Project Ltd. (VPPL), established by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), will be responsible for the port's construction and operation. VPPL will be responsible for building the essential infrastructure, including breakwater, dredging, shore protection bund, tug berth, and approach trestles at an estimated cost of ?43,622 crore. The project marks a significant milestone in India's port development strategy as it is the first instance in which the entities owned by the Union government and state government are jointly developing a greenfield port.

The Vadhavan Port will build a 20-meter deep waterway to accommodate the world's largest ships through the reclamation of 1,448 hectares from the sea, thereby reducing logistics costs and avoiding transshipment. The port will feature nine container terminals, each 1,000 meters long, and four multipurpose berths, including those for liquid cargo, roll-on/roll-off ships, and coast guard vessels, with the capacity to handle container vessels carrying over 24,000 twenty-foot equivalent units.

To ensure the port's connectivity, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will invest ?17,650 crore and ?28,810 crore, respectively, to develop road infrastructure linking the port. Additionally, the Ministry of Railways will integrate the port with the existing rail network and upcoming dedicated freight corridors. The port will be situated just 12 kilometers from the dedicated freight corridor and 22 kilometers from the Mumbai-Baroda Expressway, significantly enhancing its strategic importance and commercial potential.

The port is expected to be completed by 2030, with a projected cumulative cargo throughput of 298 million tons per year, including around 23.2 million TEUs of container handling capacity. Once completed, the port is set to emerge as the largest in India.

The Overview of Three Major Ports in India

India boasts 76 operational ports, including 12 major ports, 64 non-major ports, and nine ports underway. The following presents the overview of three major ports in India:

Mumbai Port, situated in Mumbai Harbour on the Arabian Sea, is renowned for its deep waters, which allow for the accommodation of large ships. The port excels in handling both bulk and liquid cargo. It features various cargo handling facilities, including dedicated berths for bulk goods such as coal, iron ore, and cereals, and dedicated liquid cargo terminals for petroleum, chemicals, and other liquid commodities.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port, located in Navi Mumbai on the eastern shore of the Arabian Sea, is India's second-largest container port. Managed by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPTA), the port's major exports include textiles, sports items, carpets, textile machinery, boneless meat, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals, while its primary imports are chemicals, machinery, plastics, electric motors, vegetable oils, and non-ferrous metals such as aluminum.

Mundra Port, located in Gujarat and operated by the Adani Group, stands as India's largest container and commercial port, handling up to 7.4 million TEUs annually. The port features top-tier facilities and modern operational systems, including several multipurpose docks, liquid cargo terminals, and bulk cargo berths. Additionally, it has roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) berths designed for the handling of vehicles such as cars.

The launch of the Vadhavan Port will bring a brand landscape to India's port system. The port is expected to stand as a significant hub for future maritime trade in India.