Top conglomerates such as Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd, Larsen & Toubro, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd etc. are among the 15 companies that have filed Expression of Interest (EoI) applications for Vadhavan Port on PPP under Hybrid Annnuity Model (HAM). Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the new port on August 30, 2024.
The EoI applications were invited for development and maintenance of land to be created offshore of Vadhavan coast by dredging, reclamation and construction of offshore protection bund for the proposed port. The applications were opened on September 2, 2024.
“We have received applications from 15 interested parties and after most of the parties expressed willingness, we opened the same. We will now analyse the demands and firm up the proposal before sending it to the Ministry of Finance through the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW),” JNPA Chairman Unmesh Sharad Wagh said.
“Once the proposal is approved, we will float the tenders. The entire process should take 2-3 months,” Wagh added. While the pre-application conference was held on August 1, 2024, the last date for submission of Eol was August 20, 2024.
The Vadhvan Port Project Limited (VPPL), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed for implementation of the mega port with equity from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), invited the EoI from investors/developers. The Vadhvan Port will be a deep draft modern technology smart container port with green initiatives for handling up to 24,000 TEU vessels by 2030.
While the total capacity of the Port is 24.5 million TEUs, it will be a competitive port for logistics for close connectivity to Maharashtra, Gujarat and National Capital Region (NCR). With a navigational channel depth of 20m, it will help provide connectivity to the Middle East and Europe connectivity corridor for economic integration.
The port shall be developed on a landlord model with all basic infrastructure such as breakwater, rail & road connectivity, power & water lines, common infrastructure and supporting services.
The port had received clearance from the Union Cabinet on June 19, 2024 which also approved the establishing road connectivity between the port and National Highways by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway besides rail linkage to existing rail network and the upcoming Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) by the Ministry of Railways.
The strategic placement of the Vadhvan Port will facilitate the call of container traffic. The port will bridge international and Indian coasts that will accelerate the economies of scale and mitigate the logistics cost. The total project cost, including the component of land acquisition, is Rs 76,220 Crore. This will include core infrastructure, terminals and other commercials in PPP mode.
The port will have nine container terminals, each of 1,000 meters length; four multipurpose berths; four liquid cargo berths; a Ro-Ro berth; a coastal cargo berth and a Coast Guard berth. The project involves reclamation of 1,448 Ha in offshore areas and construction of 10.14 km of breakwater, container/cargo storage areas.
