Finance Minister Ajit Pawar announced that the Vadhavan port in Palghar district is set to become operational by 2030. He also revealed plans for a third airport for Mumbai, which will be located near the Vadhavan port, along with a Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train station near the port.
Pawar highlighted that the state government holds a 26% stake in the Vadhavan port project, which is being developed at a cost of Rs76,220 crore. Once completed, the port will have an annual cargo handling capacity of around 300 million metric tonnes – three times that of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT). Additionally, the port will be connected to the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway.
The state government will also announce a policy to provide financial incentives for modern and well-equipped boats to ensure safe travel from the Gateway of India to Mandwa and Elephanta.
Pawar said the metro project, connecting the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai to Navi Mumbai International Airport, is set to commence soon.
He said the newly developed Navi Mumbai International Airport at Ulwe, covering 1,160 hectares, will have the capacity to handle 90 million passengers and 2.6 million tonnes of cargo annually. About 85% of the work is completed, and test flights have successfully been conducted, the minister said, adding that domestic flight operations are planned to commence in April.
