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The Government has assessed the requirement of a deep-draft port considering the projected growth in India's cargo and container traffic, particularly on the western coast. The Deep –draft Port, officially known as Vadhavan Port, is being developed as an all-weather greenfield deep-draft major port in Palghar district. The project was approved by the Union Cabinet on 19.06.2024 at an estimated cost of ₹76,220 crore. Upon completion, the port is expected to create a total cargo handling capacity of 298 million metric tonnes per annum.

Vadhavan Port is expected to significantly improve Maharashtra's maritime infrastructure, trade competitiveness, logistics efficiency, industrial development and employment generation. The details of modernisation and connectivity projects undertaken for the development of Vadhavan port are at Annexure-I. The details of other projects undertaken for modernisation and port connectivity in the State of Maharashtra are at Annexure-II. 

Annexure-I

Details of Modernisation and connectivity projects undertaken for the development of Vadhavan port

Sl.No.

Project/Component

Estimated Cost

in ₹ crore

1

Nearshore reclamation and shore protection works

1648

2

Construction of 10.14 km Breakwater

5,301.26

3

Offshore reclamation under PPP-HAM

20,647

4

Dedicated Road Connectivity by NHAI (32.74 km)

2,528.76

5

Dedicated Rail Connectivity by Western Railway (22.22 km)

1,765

6

Water Supply Infrastructure

328

7

Power Supply Infrastructure

320

Annexure-II

The details of other projects undertaken for modernisation and port connectivity in the State of Maharashtra

Sl. No.

Project

Project Cost

in ₹ crore

1

Construction of Third Chemical Berth at Pir Pau

161

2

Development of New Fish Jetty at Mallet Bunder Fishing Harbour

96.60

3

Modernization, Development, Operation and Maintenance of Mumbai International Cruise Terminal (MICT) at Indira Dock

363.85

4

SCADA and PLC Automation System at Marine Oil Terminal

22.77

5

Construction of Approach road to Kharwadeshwari Jetty in Palghar District

15.00

6

Construction of Approach road to Narangi Jetty

29.41

7

Augmentation of firefighting facilities at Pir Pau Terminal of Mumbai Port

52.69

The efforts made by the Government towards modernisation, mechanisation, capacity augmentation and connectivity enhancement at Major Ports in Maharashtra have resulted in increase in overall capacity to 175.87 MMTPA for Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and 88.66 MMTPA for Mumbai Port Authority. In respect of non-major ports, investments have been made by the respective State Government, private port operators and the cumulative cargo handling capacity of Maharashtra's other than Major Ports has reached 130.75 MMTPA.

These initiatives are expected to strengthen India's EXIM trade, improve logistics efficiency through enhanced road and rail connectivity, promote coastal shipping, reduce dependence on foreign transshipment ports, facilitate development of port-based industries and logistics infrastructure, and generate substantial direct and indirect employment opportunities.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

MI/Indu

Official source

[Read the original PIB release](https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2294245)

Source attribution: Press Information Bureau, Government of India.