Vadhvan Port to boost maritime trade, create jobs, and empower tribal, rural, and coastal communities in Maharashtra.
India is set to take a giant leap in global maritime trade with the development of the Vadhvan Port, a deep-draft greenfield port positioned strategically on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Once operational, the port will enhance the country’s container handling capacity by a whopping 23.2 million TEUs, significantly strengthening India’s role in international shipping and logistics.
But the project isn’t just about cargo and cranes. The Vadhvan Port Project (VPPL) is weaving a holistic development model aimed at empowering the local, tribal, rural, and coastal communities of Maharashtra, especially in the Palghar district.
A slew of strategic agreements and skilling initiatives are underway:
- VPPL has signed an MoU with Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) to support education and upskilling.
- An MoU between JNPA and the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) will ensure that project-affected people receive maritime skill development training through designated institutes.
- In a push to connect ports to farms, VPPL has also partnered with Sahyadri Farms to bolster rural entrepreneurship and agri-value chains.
- NGOs are running training programs in heavy vehicle driving and mechanics, offering job-ready skills to the youth.
- A WhatsApp chatbot launched by VPPL is helping local youth access skilling information and register with ease.
To further uplift marginalised communities, the government is aligning several welfare schemes with the port’s development:
- Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan and Tribal Rights Expansion & Empowerment (TREE) are being rolled out for tribal welfare.
- Forest rights and livelihood empowerment projects, MGNREGA, and the Thakkar Bappa Tribal Settlement Programme are being actively implemented.
- VPPL’s Coastal Community Skill Development and Impact India’s Community Health Initiative (CHI) are focused on long-term capacity building and well-being.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, shared these developments in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, highlighting the port’s dual promise: becoming a maritime powerhouse and a socially inclusive growth engine for Maharashtra.
Source: PIB
