Bombay HC Greenlights Crucial Highway for Vadhvan Port Project

The Bombay High Court has cleared a major roadblock for Maharashtra’s mega Vadhvan Port project, permitting the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to remove 208 mangrove trees. The decision allows for the construction of an essential eight-lane, access-controlled highway connecting the greenfield port in Palghar district to NH-48.

Recognizing the project’s immense public utility and national economic significance, a division bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande noted that all required environmental, coastal regulation zone (CRZ), and forest clearances were met. Furthermore, robust compensatory afforestation measures are already underway—including the plantation of 1.33 lakh mangroves across 30 hectares and a deposit of ₹4.83 crore by project authorities.

Developed by a special purpose vehicle of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and the Maharashtra Maritime Board, the all-weather, deep-water port is designed to feature nine container terminals and reclaim 1,448 hectares of sea area. Following the court's approval, Vadhvan Port Project Limited (VVPL) CMD Gaurav Dayal confirmed that key pending bottlenecks are now resolved, shifting the project into high gear to meet its targeted commissioning timeline and propel India into the world’s top 10 container port nations.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.