Cabinet approves to set up Vardhavan port in Maharashtra

On February 5, 2020, the Union Cabinet approved to set up the Vardhavan port in Maharashtra. The port is to be developed in “Landlord Model”. The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust will act as the lead partner in developing the port.

Highlights

With the development of Vardhavan port, India will enter into the category of countries with top 10 container ports in the world. The Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNP) is the biggest container port in India and 28^th in the world. The port handles more than 5.1 million TEUS (Twenty-foot Equivalent units).

Significance of Vardhavan port

Currently JNP operates India’s largest port and caters Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. However, it is essential to deepen the port to accommodate largest container ships in the world.

India’s largest container handling ports Mundra and JNPT are capable of handling 10 million TEUs. They have drafts for operating medium size containers for which they should hold a capacity of 15 million TEU. However, the ports should have capacity of 20 million TEU to handle world’s largest ships. Therefore, construction of Vardhavan port is essential.

Month: Current Affairs - February, 2020