India looks to complete and operationalise its proposed ₹66,000 crore container port project, at Vadhavan — off Mumbai, by 2040; even as it awaits required environmental clearances and has seen a revision of plans.

The proposed deep draft port in Maharashtra is expected to have a container handling capacity of more than 23 million TEUs (twenty equivalent units) by 2040, thereby placing India on the global map of top 10 container ports, said an official of the Ports and Shipping Ministry.

“Development of Vadhavan Port having cargo handling capacity of about 300 million tonne per annum (mtpa) is in the pipeline. As of now, the environment clearance is being processed. Only thereafter will the remaining activities commence (such as floating EoIs, RPFs, etc),” an official said.

According to Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, special purpose vehicle (SPV) has been formed, with JNPA and Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) as its members, for implementing the Vadhavan Port project.

“This SPV will invest about ₹16,140 crore for development of basic infrastructure such as breakwater reclamation, rail and road connectivity linkages, power, water lines, common utility etc. Terminal operation & Cargo handling infrastructure to be developed through PPP mode,” he told the Parliament in a written response.