The phrase “Century of Oceans” is commonly used to refer to the 21st century. Oceans, maritime pathways, and deep-sea ports have now become a central point of “global politics.” In the post-Cold War era, unipolarity has been shifting to multipolarity, with India, China, Brazil, and many others emerging as great powers. The evolution of India from a colonized nation to a strong nation is worth mentioning.
The effective combination of economic and geographical factors determines international trade and commerce, and India has paid heed to its geo-economics. India is surrounded by prominent oceans and seas including the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Indian Ocean in the south, and the Arabian Sea in the west. It has an extensive coastline of about 7,500 kilometers which has been a significant source of India’s economic growth and GDP development. India has a significant and vast network of seaports, with a total of 13 major ports and about 205 notified intermediate ports. These ports in India contribute to about 70% of the country’s trade by value.
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But to meet global connectivity demands and maritime standards, India crucially needs new ports. The Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port are the most significant ports in Maharashtra, but their capacities are constrained to handle the ultra-large container vessels due to low harbor depths as well as the increased population around these ports. vadhavan Port is emerging as a game changer for India, and it is expected to be greater than Mumbai Port and deeper than Krishnapatram Port.
The Vadhavan Port Project
The Vadhavan Port Project will be a transformative project with strategic benefits for India’s economy. The Vadhavan Project was first proposed by the Maharashtra Government in 1997 to accommodate the growing value of cargo on the western coast of India, but this plan was rejected by the local communities as this could have resulted in the loss of their livelihood.
The project again came into prominence after the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated the “Sagarmala Programme” in 2015, which made the port-led development of the country a focal point of its project, making sea trade a major facilitator of GDP. PM Modi laid the foundation stone of the project on August 30, 2024. The project is expected to cost ₹76,220 crore.
Port Infrastructure
Located in the Palghar district, Vadhavan Port is a deep-water and all-weather port. It will be built at Vadhavan in Maharashtra on the coast of the Arabian Sea and will be handled by the special purpose vehicle, the Vadhavan Port Project Limited, a joint venture between the Maharashtra Maritime Board and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) with the 26% stake and 74% stake, respectively, in a public-private partnership. At a distance of 10 kilometers, from the vadhavan point towards sea, the natural depth of 20 meters will allow it to handle the latest generation of container ships.
Significance of Vadhavan Port to India’s Maritime Trade
The significance of Vadhavan Port lies in its capability to reshape the maritime trade of India. It will be a greenfield port, meaning a port developed from scratch in an undeveloped region. It is designed to accommodate the bulky containers, with a cumulative capacity of up to 298 million MMT of cargo per annum, and includes 24,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) holding capacity. It will be the 13th port of India with such TEU capacity. This capacity is unmatched by most Indian ports, making it capable of competing with global ports like Dubai and Singapore.
It will act as a trade route for the future International North-South Transportation Corridor and India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), empowering India to bolster its economic dominance and compete in maritime trade. This port will be equipped with handling tools, automated modes, and trading routes to ensure the smooth functioning of this trade.
As the Jawaharlal Nehru Port and Mumbai Port are over-congested and the goods of India are attracting more demand, the Vadhavan Port will alleviate the burden and will characterize four multi-purpose berths. This includes four liquid cargo berths, a RO-RO berth, a Coastline berth, and a railway terminal. The port will have 9 terminals, each with a length of 1000 meters.
After completion, the port will require thousands of workers, including dock, workers, administrative staff, and logistic staff. This project is anticipated to stimulate economic activity and create jobs for 12 lakh people in India. Investors and companies involved in these investments would stand to gain substantial benefits. This port will also bring foreign investors and foreign direct investment (FDI) to the region and country. Vadhavan Port naturally offers 20 meters of depth, so it will demand less operational costs and fewer maintenance efforts.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India has approved the construction of the roads and trade routes to connect the port with the national highways. This project will generate revenue for the government through taxes, port charges, and the associated economy. It will also create a ripple effect across India’s economy in the manufacturing, logistics, and services sectors. Minister Vishnaw emphasized that the project was not only about infrastructure but also about growth opportunities and global competitiveness. It also plans to work on energy sustainability and clean energy by implementing strict pollution control strategies. This project will benefit local communities by making it compulsory to construct roads, infrastructure, and railways.
Issues Stemming From Being Located Near Dahanu Taluka
Despite all the glorification of this project, there are some challenges headed India’s way. The Vadhavan Port will be constructed near the region of Dahanu Taluka which was declared ecologically sensitive and endangered by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. In 1998, DTEPA declared the construction of the port at Vadhavan “impermissible,” emphasizing that Dahanu was among the last surviving green zones, so construction of the port would harm maritime ecosystems and coastline areas. Moreover, the people in Vadhavan and surrounding areas depend on fishing as their livelihood. Protesters including local communities, villagers, and fishermen have been conveying their opposition to the project for a decade. Their main concern is that the construction of the port would require a vast piece of land, which could lead to the acquisition of the lands of local people. Protesters are also worried that this project will affect coastal tourism in this region and will include hill cutting.
The Government of India can effectively solve these issues by ensuring land safety and livelihood protection. The Vadhavan Project is significant and will change the dynamics of Indian trade and will contribute to effective shipping and delivery of goods all over the globe. Moreover, it will enhance India’s global image as a great maritime power.
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Eman Fatima is currently pursuing her Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Government College University Lahore. She has a keen interest in understanding the complexities of global politics and the dynamics that shape international interactions.