Navi Mumbai’s upcoming Vadhavan Port has garnered significant interest from leading industry players, with 15 companies, including major conglomerates such as Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd, Larsen & Toubro, and Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd, submitting Expressions of Interest (EoI) for its development. This project, launched with its foundation stone being laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 30, 2024, is poised to become a cornerstone of India’s logistics infrastructure.
The EoI submissions, which were opened on September 2, 2024, are part of a broader initiative to develop and maintain land created offshore of the Vadhavan coast. This involves dredging, reclamation, and constructing an offshore protection bund for the new port. The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) have established the Vadhvan Port Project Limited (VPPL) as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to oversee this major endeavour.
The Vadhavan Port is envisioned as a state-of-the-art deep draft container port, capable of handling vessels up to 24,000 TEUs by 2030. With a total capacity of 24.5 million TEUs, the port will serve as a pivotal hub for logistics, bridging connections between Maharashtra, Gujarat, and the National Capital Region (NCR). Its strategic location and a navigational channel depth of 20 metres will facilitate vital links to the Middle East and Europe, enhancing economic integration.
The port will be developed on a landlord model, incorporating essential infrastructure such as breakwaters, rail and road connectivity, power and water lines, and supporting services. This model aims to foster efficient operations and scalable growth. The project, with an estimated total cost of ₹76,220 crore, will feature nine container terminals, four multipurpose berths, four liquid cargo berths, a Ro-Ro berth, a coastal cargo berth, and a Coast Guard berth. The development plan includes the reclamation of 1,448 hectares of offshore land and the construction of a 10.14 km breakwater along with container and cargo storage facilities. Following the Union Cabinet’s clearance on June 19, 2024, which also approved road and rail connectivity enhancements, the next steps involve a thorough analysis of the EoIs. Once finalised, tenders will be floated within the next 2-3 months, setting the stage for one of the most ambitious port projects in India’s recent history.
