Vadhvan Port Construction Begins with Tender Issued for Near Shore Reclamation and Shore Protection Works

Vadhvan Port Project Ltd has officially invited bids for near shore reclamation and shore protection works valued at ₹1,700 crore, marking a significant milestone in the development of a new deep-water major port at Vadhvan, located near Dahanu in Maharashtra’s Palghar district. This project represents the first step toward the construction of the mega port, which is estimated to cost ₹76,220 crore and will span 1,448 hectares of reclaimed land.

“From this project, we will create nearly 200 hectares of land close to the shore, which will serve as the launch point for offshore works like breakwater construction and further reclamation. This area will function as a landing site for future operations and, once all offshore activities are completed, will be utilized for storage of containers, construction of tank farms, and laying of railway lines,” said Unmesh Wagh, Chairman of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, in an interview with ET Infra.

The Vadhvan Port Project Ltd is a joint venture between the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (holding a 74% stake) and the Maharashtra Maritime Board (26% equity) dedicated to executing the Vadhvan Port initiative.

The basic infrastructure required for the new deep-water port, including dredging, reclamation, shore protection works, breakwater, approach trestle, and essential connectivity, entails an investment of ₹38,976 crore. Dredging and offshore reclamation will be conducted under a public-private partnership (PPP)/Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) with an estimated value of ₹20,647 crore, while the remaining core infrastructure will be constructed through an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) model.

Additionally, the remaining project cost of ₹37,244 crore will be financed by private operators responsible for container terminals, multipurpose berths, coastal cargo berths, roll-on/roll-off (RO-RO) facilities, and liquid berths selected by Vadhvan Port Project Ltd.

Once completed, Vadhvan Port is expected to handle up to 298 million tonnes (mt) of cargo, including 23.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

ET