Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has proposed the development of a dedicated rail freight corridor connecting Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) and the upcoming Vadhvan Port with the Samruddhi Expressway, a move aimed at significantly reducing logistics costs and enhancing the state’s integration into global supply chains.
Speaking at the inauguration of electronics manufacturing company Jabil’s new facility in Pune on Wednesday, Fadnavis said the proposed corridor would link major ports with inland dry ports and industrial centres across Maharashtra, creating a seamless multimodal logistics network.
“Maharashtra has JNPT, which handles nearly 60 per cent of India’s container traffic. With the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are also developing Vadhvan Port, which will be three times larger than JNPT and among the world’s top ten ports,” Fadnavis said.
The Chief Minister revealed that he had discussed the proposal with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The planned freight corridor would run alongside the 701-km Samruddhi Expressway, where land has already been reserved for railway infrastructure.
According to the proposal, the corridor would connect the dry ports at Jalna and Wardha before extending to Gadchiroli, which Fadnavis described as India’s emerging steel hub. He said the enhanced connectivity could reduce logistics costs to around 7-8 per cent, boosting Maharashtra’s competitiveness in global trade.
Fadnavis noted that while port-led development currently benefits only about 15 per cent of Maharashtra, the proposed rail connectivity could extend those advantages to nearly 75 per cent of the state. “Put industry anywhere and you have dedicated port connectivity—that is our dream,” he said.
Highlighting Maharashtra’s economic strength, the Chief Minister said the state contributes 14 per cent of India’s GDP and accounts for nearly 20 per cent of the country’s exports. He also pointed to Maharashtra’s growing prominence in electronics manufacturing and data centres, with around 60 per cent of India’s data centre capacity being developed in the state.
Fadnavis further described Mumbai and Pune as India’s emerging “Quantum Valley,” stating that improved connectivity, including a proposed high-speed rail link, would create one of the country’s largest technology and innovation corridors.
Reaffirming the state’s industry-friendly approach, Fadnavis assured Jabil of continued government support and a conducive business environment as Maharashtra seeks to attract more investments in advanced manufacturing and technology sectors.
