Vadhavan Port in Palghar to have extensive road connectivity

Mumbai: The upcoming Vadhavan Port in Palghar district near Mumbai - the biggest port in India - will have extensive road connectivity including a link to the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Expressway and the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway. 

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) presented a revised and economically viable plan for the Uttan-Virar Sea Link (UVSL) project to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who is the state’s Urban Development Minister. 

During a review meeting, Fadnavis directed that the proposed UVSL should be connected to the upcoming Vadhavan Port and the Samruddhi Mahamarg (Expressway), making it a crucial link connecting Mumbai to the ambitious Vadhavan Port project.

The project will be directly connected to the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway through the Virar connector, significantly improving freight and passenger movement between the northern suburbs and the western coastal corridor. 

“The project will not only create economic opportunities but also strengthen India’s port-led development vision,” said Fadnavis. 

“After detailed technical and engineering evaluations, MMRDA presented six cost variants ranging from Rs 87,427 crore to Rs 52,652 crore. The state leadership selected the Rs 52,652 crore alternative as it was financially more viable, efficient, and environmentally friendly. The revised design has successfully brought down the cost from Rs 87,427.17 crore to Rs 52,652 crore,” according to officials of the Chief Minister’s Office and MMRDA. 

The Uttan-Virar Sea Link will be a key component of MMR’s future transport network, directly linking Mumbai’s northern suburbs with Vadhavan Port and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. It is expected to unlock significant new economic and connectivity potential across the region.

Fadnavis also instructed the creation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the project's implementation and called for fast-tracking the required approvals for the proposed alignment.

Vadhavan (also spelled Wadhawan) - in Palghar district -  is located some 140 kms away from downtown Mumbai along the Maharashtra-Gujarat boundary. 

The Wadhwan port - a Greenfield all-weather port is coming up in Vadhavan for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has performed the ground-breaking ceremony last year.The total project cost, including the land acquisition component is Rs 76,220 crore.

The project will be constructed by Vadhavan Port Project Ltd (VPPL), an SPV formed by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) with a shareholding of 74 per cent and 26 per cent, respectively, official sources said.  This will include development of core infrastructure, terminals and other commercial infrastructure in public-private partnerships (PPP) mode. 

On the other hand, the state government-run Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) has commenced a pre-feasibility study for the development of a Greenfield airport around the Vadhavan area of Palghar.