Mumbai: The upcoming Wadhawan Port near the financial capital will help take India into the top 10 among container ports globally by 2034, Union Shipping and Ports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Wednesday.
The port off the coast of Dahanu in Maharashtra being developed under a public-private partnership will be able to handle ultra-large vessels as well, he said, speaking at a maritime event organized by industry lobby grouping Ficci.
“The PPP project will position India among the top 10 global container ports by 2034,” he said.
The port project, worth a massive Rs 76,220 crore, “is expected to create approximately 10 lakh employment opportunities and will be completed on time,” the minister added. A chatbot has been developed to gather valuable data and ensure that the youth of Vadhvan receive targeted training that aligns with the employment opportunities generated by the development of the Vadhvan Port project, the JNPA said in a statement.
Furthermore, speaking about the local communities’ protests against the port’s development, the minister said, “Fishermen’s interests will be protected. We will take special care of their traditional businesses to sustain them.”
The minister mentioned that the JNPA’s container-handling capacity will soon reach one crore twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) as it has developed quality infrastructure. The aim is to make the port completely eco-friendly, fully supplied with solar power. In April 2024, the JNPA initiated the replacement of diesel-operated internal terminal vehicles (ITVs) with electric ITVs (E-ITVs).
“As part of India’s national green hydrogen mission, we are aiming to develop green ports and achieve green shipping and net-zero emissions by 2070. Also, as part of the green parks transition initiative, 16 green parks will be incorporated across the 12 major Indian ports, which will be operational by 2030,” the MoPSW added.
Additionally, the JNPA signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs): one with Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) and Vadhavan Port to finance infrastructure projects, and another with Gateway Terminal India (GTI) concerning a sustainable initiative at the port.
