Centre approves ₹76,200 crore Vadhavan Port Project in Maharashtra

On Wednesday, June 19, the Union Cabinet approved the development of a ₹76,200 crore all-weather greenfield deep-draft port at Vadhavan in Maharashtra a project set to become one of India’s largest ports and rank among the top 10 globally.

The port will be developed by Vadhavan Port Project Limited (VPPL), a special purpose vehicle jointly formed by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), holding 74% and 26% stakes respectively.

The massive infrastructure plan includes land acquisition, core infrastructure, and commercial terminals to be developed under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. Once complete, the port is expected to handle 298 million metric tons of cargo annually, including about 23.2 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of container traffic. It will feature nine container terminals, each 1,000 metres long, along with four multipurpose berths, a coastal berth, four liquid cargo berths, a Ro-Ro berth, and a dedicated Coast Guard berth.

The project is projected to generate nearly 12 lakh jobs and will significantly boost India’s EXIM trade by acting as a gateway for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Additionally, the Cabinet approved plans for robust road and rail connectivity, linking the port to national highways and the upcoming Dedicated Freight Corridor.