In a significant development, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) assured the Supreme Court that no construction will be carried out at the site of the proposed Vadhavan Port in Palghar district until February 28, 2025, the next date of hearing.
The assurance was given by the Authority after the SC indicated that it was inclined to maintain the status quo till the next date of hearing. The apex court was hearing a special leave petition filed by the National Fishworkers’ Forum and others against an order of the Bombay high court.
The case was heard by a bench comprising Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan on February 7. During the proceedings, the Attorney General of India, representing the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), assured the court that no work would begin at the site until the next hearing scheduled for February 28, 2025.
Touted as India’s largest container port, the foundation stone for the Vadhavan Port project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 30, 2024. The Prime Minister highlighted the port’s potential to be one of the top 10 deep-water ports globally and emphasized its role in boosting trade, industrial development, and economic growth in Maharashtra and across India.
“The Rs 76,000 crore project will create vast opportunities for new businesses, warehousing, and seamless cargo transportation through its connectivity with the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor and the Delhi-Mumbai Rail Corridor,” Modi stated during the foundation stone-laying ceremony.
Despite legal challenges, the authorities began the process of acquiring 574 hectares of land across 25 villages in Dahanu taluka. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Indian Railways, and local authorities have been conducting land measurement and demarcation activities.
A significant portion of the land earmarked for the port—approximately 50%—is classified as forest land. The NHAI has applied for forest clearance to construct an eight-lane access-controlled highway to the port, which will require the felling of over 10,000 trees. Notices have been issued to affected landowners and businesses earlier this year.
According to JNPA authorities, the tendering for near-shore reclamation work is expected to begin by the end of February 2025. The port will be developed as a joint venture, with JNPA holding a 74% stake and the Maharashtra Maritime Board holding the remaining 26%.
The infrastructure blueprint for the port includes a 32 km road and a 12 km rail link, ensuring connectivity with the Mumbai-Vadodara Highway and the Mumbai-Vadodara Expressway. The port will feature a 15,363.5-hectare waterfront, a 1,488-hectare intertidal zone, and a 63.5-hectare berth zone. Once completed, the port is expected to handle 23.2 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) annually, positioning it as a major logistics hub for Maharashtra, Gujarat, and the National Capital Region (NCR).
The project follows the landlord model, with the state providing basic infrastructure while private concessionaires develop and operate cargo terminals under public-private partnership (PPP) agreements. The first phase of construction is expected to begin post-monsoon in 2025, with operations commencing by 2029. Incidentally, an international airport is also planned to be built in Palghar district.
