What is Vadhvan port?

Vadhvan Port, which is located near Dahanu town in Palghar (around 150 km from Mumbai), will be one of India’s largest deep-water ports. It will provide direct connectivity to international shipping routes, help reduce transit times and costs, cater to large container vessels, offer deeper drafts and accommodate ultra-large cargo ships.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 30th August,2024 , laid the foundation stone for the construction of Vadhvan Port project, at a budget of around Rs 76,220 crore, in Maharashtra’s Palghar. The Vadhvan port will be one of India’s largest deep water ports and is part of the Centre’s ambitious Sagarmala programme that seeks to improve the country’s logistics with a focus on the maritime sector.Dubbed the “ultimate shipping powerhouse”, it will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure and will boast nine 1000-meter-long container terminals, multipurpose berths, liquid cargo berths, Ro-Ro berths, and a dedicated Coast Guard berth.It will also feature efficient cargo handling facilities and modern port management systems.It is positioned as a hub port in the Arabian Sea and will forge trade links with the Far East, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and America.The port is expected to generate significant employment opportunities, stimulate local businesses and contribute to the overall economic development of the region. According to the Centre, the port can create up to 12 lakh jobs and nearly 1 crore indirect employment opportunities.This port is going to be India’s 13th major port, which will also be an integral part of the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC). It will aid EXIM (Export-Import) trade flow through IMEEC and INSTC (International North South Transportation Corridor).Once completed, the port will be one of the top 10 ports in the world. The first phase of the project will be ready by 2029 while the second and final phase is expected to be completed by 2039.This port will handle 15 million TEU containers in the first phase and 23.2 million TEUs after the commissioning of its second phase.The project involves the reclamation of 1,448 hectares of area in the sea and the construction of 10.14 km of offshore breakwater and container/cargo storage areas.It will be constructed by a joint venture in which Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) will have a 74 percent stake and Maharashtra Maritime Board will hold 26 percent. The port is expected to generate significant employment opportunities, stimulate local businesses and contribute to the overall economic development of the region. According to the Centre, the port can create up to 12 lakh jobs and nearly 1 crore indirect employment opportunities.