The Union Cabinet has sanctioned a pivotal 32-kilometer road project to link the proposed Vadhvan Port in Maharashtra’s Palghar district with National Highway 48, as announced by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA). This infrastructure development is expected to be crucial for the port’s growth, which is under the JNPA’s purview.
NHAI Approves Road Connectivity Plan
The National Highways Authority of India’s Land Acquisition Committee (NHAI-LAC) has approved the road connectivity plan and authorized the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to move forward with the necessary steps. A gazette notification has designated the road from NH-48 (Tawa Junction) to Vadhvan Port as a national highway, effective August 12.
JNPA Chairman Unmesh Sharad Wagh emphasized the road’s significance, noting, “The construction of the road is a critical activity necessary to initiate the work at Vadhvan Port. It is essential for transporting quarry material from the sites to the port, as local roads are too narrow for such heavy transportation. The declaration by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to designate this road as a National Highway will expedite the process significantly.”
Following the NHAI’s notification, land acquisition for the road will commence. Tenders will soon be invited for the construction of an initial 20-kilometer two-lane road, part of the comprehensive connectivity plan for Vadhvan, with future plans to extend it for full access.
The Vadhvan Port project, approved by the Cabinet in June, is set to advance after the monsoon season, contingent upon road connectivity. This development is poised to boost regional growth and tourism in Palghar district.
