NHAI to develop road connectivity to Vadhvan Port under EPC Mode : Gadkari
NEW DELHI : The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari said that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will build a ₹2,881 crore road link to the upcoming Vadhvan Port in Maharashtra using the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) mode. Once traffic volumes increase following the port’s operational launch, the project will be monetized through the Toll-Operate-Transfer (TOT) route.
The meeting agreed that the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Toll model “may not be feasible” for the 32 km long, 8-lane highway stretch from NH 48 and Delhi-Mumbai Expressway to the planned Vadhvan port as the traffic flow would be low in the initial stages, particularly when the highway will become operational before the new port starts operations. There will be no traffic till the first phase of the port starts operations in 2029-30.
“But, once the traffic flow builds up with the development of the port, the toll revenues can be monetised through the TOT (model),” an official briefed on the meeting said, asking not to be named.
“NHAI will submit the proposal for approval of the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, to take up the project on EPC mode,” the official said.
The meeting was informed that the land acquisition for the road and rail links to Vadhvan port is expected to be completed by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority by March 2025.
NHAI was directed to ensure that the EPC contract for the highway project was awarded before March 2025.
The work on the highway connectivity to Vadhvan port is expected to start in May 2025.
“This is a big boost to the Vadhvan port project,” said Unmesh wagh, Chairman, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, which is helming the new port project.
“Now, the road link to the new port project will be ready in a year and facilitate the construction of the port apart from reducing time and cost,” he stated, adding that “everything is falling in place at a fast pace” for building the new port.
The project received a further impetus with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance retaining power in the recently concluded assembly polls in Maharashtra.
Gadkari, according to the official, directed that the proposal for approval of the highway alignment and the Network Planning Group (NPG) should be submitted in a fortnight.
Besides, with the traffic on the road link solely dependent on the progress of the port work, it was decided to construct a 4-lane road initially which will be widened to 8-lanes after the first phase of the port starts operations, for optimum utilisation of resources.
“This will avoid creating over capacity before requirements. However, it was decided that all the structures, bridges and the tunnel should be constructed as per 8-lane configuration initially,” the official stated.
During the meeting, Gadkari opined that the development of the port will happen at a rapid pace as it will be the largest deep-water port in the country.
With the port traffic expected to rise manifold after 10-15 years of operations, road widening beyond 8-lanes may also be required.
Keeping this in view, it was suggested that the configuration of the tunnel to accommodate more lanes should be taken up right from the beginning itself as the tunnel cannot be widened at a later stage.
Hence, it was decided that the configuration of the tunnel for the Vadhvan port link road will follow the method adopted for the Vadodara Mumbai Expressway project which is being constructed as an 8-lane highway with provision for widening to 12-lanes, including a 4-km long twin tunnel.
The 9 December meeting also decided to “prioritise” construction of the initial 20 km one side road from the port end till the quarry site near tunnel location to facilitate the civil works for the port which is slated to start in 2025-26. The first phase of the port, including breakwater construction, is targeted for completion by 2029-30.
Gadkari also advised Chairman, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority to identify 150-200 acres of land along or near the road/rail link for setting up a multi-modal logistics park (MMLP) following a suggestion put forward by the Chief Executive Officer, National Highways Logistics Management Ltd (NHLM), a unit of NHAI.
The Union Cabinet, while clearing the Rs 76,220 crore Vadhavan Port project on 19 June, delegated the power for deciding the mode of execution related to road connectivity component of the project to the Minister of Road Transport and Highways.
The rail and road projects linking the Mumbai-Delhi Western railway line and NH 48, some 12 kms and 33 kms, respectively, from the port, will provide hinterland connectivity and reduce logistic costs.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, through a gazette notification on August 12, designated the 32 km highway stretch from NH 48 (Tawa Junction) to the proposed Vadhavan Port as a national highway.
This declaration facilitates land acquisition for the road link under the NHAI Act, streamlining the process. However, the cost of land acquisition will be covered by Vadhavan Port Project Ltd (VPPL), the special purpose vehicle responsible for executing the port project.