124 Villagers Hand Over Land for Vadhvan Port Project, Boosting Key Infrastructure in Palghar

The Palghar district administration announced that 124 villagers from Varor have voluntarily handed over possession of approximately 2.5 hectares of land, comprising 41 subdivisions, for the Vadhvan Port project near Dahanu in Maharashtra. This move has resolved a key bottleneck linked to survey disputes and is enabling progress on a strategically important infrastructure corridor.

The land parcel, identified as critical for the development of port-related infrastructure, had previously faced delays due to complexities in land surveys and ownership delineation. According to the administration, the breakthrough was achieved after senior district officials conducted direct, in-person consultations with affected landowners to address their concerns and clarify compensation mechanisms.

District Collector Indu Rani Jakhar acknowledged the cooperation of local residents, indicating that their participation reflects a level of trust between the administration and the community. The administration stated that it remains committed to ensuring timely and equitable resolution of all project-related matters while safeguarding local interests.

Landowners involved in the process indicated satisfaction with the approach adopted by the administration, noting that their concerns were heard and addressed through transparent discussions. Instead of pursuing civil litigation, the 124 landowners chose to settle compensation matters directly with the authorities. They agreed to the government’s terms and handed over possession of their land without seeking advance compensation, signaling confidence in the process outlined by the administration.

The Vadhvan Port project, an all-weather greenfield development, is being executed through a special purpose vehicle formed by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB). Located adjacent to Mumbai, the port is designed as a large-scale maritime infrastructure facility with multiple cargo handling capabilities.

Project plans include the development of nine container terminals, each measuring 1,000 metres in length, along with four multipurpose berths, including a coastal berth, four liquid cargo berths, a roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) berth, and a dedicated Coast Guard berth. The development also involves reclamation of approximately 1,448 hectares of sea area and the construction of a 10.14-kilometre offshore breakwater, in addition to container and cargo storage infrastructure.

The project, with an estimated cost of INR 76,220 crore, had its foundation laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the past. Once operational, it is expected to handle significant container traffic and is projected to be among the leading container ports globally, reflecting its scale and planned capacity.