Rs. 76,200 PROJECT WILL TRANSFORM INDIA’S MARITIME LANDSCAPE:INDRA YADAV

Rs. 76,200 PROJECT WILL TRANSFORM INDIA’S MARITIME LANDSCAPE:INDRA YADAV

9-AUG-ENG 11

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA----------------------------Construction of the Wadhwan Port has commenced with a massive budget of ₹76,200 crore, a project poised to transform India's maritime landscape. Despite already being the country's busiest port, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) is gearing up to reach new heights. Chairman Gaurav Dayal has announced that this mega project will be completed in two phases.

Dayal stated that the first phase of construction will be completed between 2026 and 2030, followed by the second phase, which will conclude all construction work between 2030 and 2033. Upon the completion of both phases, the time required for loading and unloading cargo will be significantly reduced. This will save time for traders and result in substantial cost savings. Simply put, the process of loading and unloading cargo from ships will become faster and easier than ever before.

The JNPA Chairman further noted that efforts to modernize operational systems at the port have been proceeding rapidly over the past year. Ship operations are being fully digitized through digital automation and auto-mode systems. This means a reduction in paperwork and a shift towards smarter, more efficient workflows.

Traffic congestion issues are also set to be resolved. Complaints regarding massive traffic jams during the movement of cargo to and from the port via road had become common. To address this, there is a plan to construct a second link road connecting the terminals (DP World and NSITC) to the Atal Setu. The budget for this project is estimated at approximately ₹2,000 crore. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) is currently being prepared, with a target to complete the work by 2028-29.

Gaurav Dayal mentioned that JNPA currently handles import-export operations with around 200 countries, including the US and nations across Europe. Opportunities to expand trade with additional countries will be explored in the future. This capacity will increase further once the Vadhavan Port is completed.

This project is not merely about constructing a new port; it is a major step towards making India's maritime trade faster, modern, and congestion-free. An investment of ₹76,200 crore, a planned two-phase schedule, and a new link road to ensure smooth traffic flow—all these elements combined are set to transform Vadhavan into one of the country's most important maritime hubs.