India approved approved a mega container port plan at Vadhavan. Now, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) will get a more powerful deep-drafted neighbour, capable of handling 20 million TEUs per annum.
The plan was cleared on February 5, and regards the construction of a deep-drafted port with a depth of 20 metres, that can welcome the largest container ships in the world.
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After the completion of a fourth container terminal in 2023, JNPT’s capacity will increase to 10m TEU, establishing it as the 17th biggest container port in the world.
Currently, JNPT’s has an alongside draft of 15 metres, which is not enough to handle vessels above 10,000 TEUs. Located in a coastal tract, the Vadhavan port has a natural draught of around 20 metres close to the shore, able to handle mega container vessels.
The Vadhavan project was initially thought of in 2017, but it could experience delays as two local environmental bodies oppose to the project. Namely, the Greenmen is against India clearing the Vadhavan proposal, as the matter was still in the Supreme Court. In fact, during 2017, the DTEPA had decided that the port could not be located at the site selected for it, as it would damage the environment.
