The ambitious plans to build a mega deep sea port at Vadhavan to the north of Mumbai are moving ahead with Jawahar Lal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) signing multiple memorandum of understandings (MOU) towards the development of container terminals, offshore projects among other things.
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Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, which is the largest ports operator in India, has evinced an interest to participate in the development of a container terminal at the Vadhavan port. The MOU signed in this regard by Adani is worth Rs 26,500 crore.
According to JNPA Chairman Unmesh Wagh, Vadhavan Port will have nine container terminals.
Separately, another MOU signed between JNPA and Adani Ports relates to offshore projects at the port, like breakwater (structure built offshore to protect the harbour). This is also valued to be around Rs 26,500 crore.
The actual contracts are to be awarded after a detailed bidding process, according to Wagh.
According to a recent media report, four entities have submitted initial bids to develop the 10.14 km long breakwater.
Vadhavan Port is a joint venture project between state-owned JNPA and Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB). JNPA will hold 74 per cent stake and MMB 24 per cent.
The total project cost estimated for the Vadhavan port is Rs 76,220 crore.
This all-weather port in Vadhvan will augment the national container handling capacity by 23.2 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent unit) and will facilitate calling of mega-size container ships, capable of carrying 24,000 TEUs.
