Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Vadhavan port in Palghar, Maharashtra. The total cost of this project is about Rs. 76,000 crores. PM Modi also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 218 fisheries projects worth about Rs 1,560 crores. PM Modi will address the program shortly.
PM Modi is on a visit to Maharashtra today. The program is being organized at CIDCO Ground in Palghar. Earlier, PM Modi reached Mumbai and addressed the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2024 at Jio World Convention Center in Mumbai.
The Palghar Vadhavan Port project aims to boost the country’s trade and economic development by establishing a world-class maritime gateway that can accommodate the needs of large container ships. It will involve deepening the sea bed to accommodate large cargo ships.
At the Vadhavan port program, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said, today’s day will be written in golden letters. Vadhavan port will be three times bigger than JNPT. Maharashtra will remain number one for the next 50 years due to Vadhavan port. Vadhavan port was conceived in 1980. Its natural depth is 20 meters. This dream is being fulfilled today only because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We won in the Supreme Court. PM Modi ji will be remembered for the next 200 years due to the benefits of Vadhavan port. People of Mumbai are shifting to this area. I propose an airport in Palghar. Tribals and OBCs will get good jobs. Our target is to provide 1 lakh jobs to the local people here.
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said that today is a very important day. Today when the foundation stone will be laid, we saw some news of opposition to the project. We need to understand that for development, some coordination will have to be made. Everyone will be taken care of. I want to tell you people and assure you in front of the PM and CM that no one will be left behind. Everyone will be taken along and generations will benefit. Do not misunderstand the project.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, Vadhavan port will be the largest port in India built after independence. This port is a big gift for Maharashtra. It will provide a lot of employment to women, youth and local communities. This is not a small port, it will be in the list of top ten ports in the world. Palghar will be a very important place in the country. This sector will make India strong. When the construction starts, it will provide employment opportunities to one lakh people and once the construction is completed, it will provide employment to more than one million people.
What is special about this project
The Vadhavan port, located near Dahanu town in Palghar district, will be one of India’s largest deep-water ports. It will provide direct connectivity to international shipping routes, reducing transit times and costs.
The project will be constructed by Vadhawan Port Project Limited (VPPL), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) with their stake being 74% and 26% respectively. Vadhawan Port will be developed as a Greenfield Deep Draft Major Port at Wadhawan in Palghar district of Maharashtra, which will be an all-weather operational port.
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The port will have nine container terminals, each 1000 metres long, including four multipurpose berths including coastal berths, four liquid cargo berths, one Ro-Ro berth and one Coast Guard berth. The project involves reclamation of 1,448 hectares of sea area and construction of 10.14 km offshore breakwater and container/cargo storage areas. The cumulative capacity of the project will be 298 million metric tonnes (MMT) per annum, including about 23.2 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent) container handling capacity.
12 lakh people will get employment
Equipped with state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure, this Vadhavan port will have facilities like deep dock, efficient cargo handling facilities and modern port management system. This port will create significant employment opportunities and contribute to the overall economic development of the region by encouraging local businesses.
Upon completion, the Vadhavan port will be among the top ten ports in the world. Aligned with the objectives of the PM Gati Shakti program, the project will boost economic activity and also has the potential to generate direct and indirect employment opportunities for around 12 lakh people, thereby contributing to the local economy.
The Vadhavan port project incorporates sustainable development practices, with a focus on minimising environmental impact and adhering to stringent ecological standards. Once operational, the port will enhance India’s maritime connectivity and further strengthen its position as a global trade hub.
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The world-class marine terminal facilities promote public-private partnerships (PPP) and leverage efficiency and modern technologies to create state-of-the-art terminals. These marine terminal facilities will be capable of handling mainline mega vessels plying on international shipping lines between the Far East, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Americas.
PM will also inaugurate these projects
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of 218 fisheries projects costing around Rs 1560 crore, aimed at boosting the infrastructure and productivity of the fisheries sector across the country. These initiatives are expected to generate over five lakh employment opportunities in the fisheries sector.
The Prime Minister will launch the National Roll Out of Vessel Communication and Assistance System at a cost of about Rs 360 crore. Under this project, one lakh transponders will be installed on mechanised and motorised fishing vessels in 13 coastal states and Union Territories in a phased manner. Vessel Communication and Assistance System is an indigenous technology developed by ISRO, which will help in establishing two-way communication while fishermen are at sea and will also help in rescue operations and ensure the safety of our fishermen.
The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of important fisheries infrastructure projects including development, upgradation and modernisation of fishing centres and construction of fish markets. This is expected to provide the necessary facilities and hygienic conditions for handling fish and seafood.
This is the PM’s program in Mumbai
The Prime Minister will address a special session of the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2024. GFF is being jointly organized by the Payments Council of India, National Payments Corporation of India and Fintech Convergence Council.
Around 800 speakers, including policymakers, regulators, senior bankers, industry veterans and academicians from India and various countries, will address more than 350 sessions at the conference. It will also showcase the latest innovations in the fintech landscape. More than 20 thought leadership reports and white papers will be launched at GFF 2024, providing insights and in-depth industry information.