Four companies, including Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), have submitted bids for developing offshore land and constructing an offshore protection bund for the upcoming Vadhavan port in Palghar district, Maharashtra. The work involves dredging and reclamation as part of the port’s development. Gaurav Dayal, chairman of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), said the bids had been received from APSEZ, DP World Ports Holding (India), NMDC group PJSC and Vishwa Samudra Engineering. The proposals will be sent to the ministry for security clearance, after which the financial bids will be opened. The greenfield port is being developed by Vadhvan Port Project, a joint venture between JNPA and the Maharashtra Maritime Board. The project has an estimated cost of Rs. 762.2 bn, while the offshore land development and protection bund package is valued at Rs. 223.23 bn. Its groundbreaking ceremony was held before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Afcons Infrastructure has been awarded the contract to build the port’s breakwater, which, at 10.14 km, will be the longest in India. J Kumar Infraprojects is constructing the Vadhvan-Tawa Expressway, which will connect the port with National Highway-48 and the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway. The Maharashtra government has also sought an extension of the Uttan-Virar sealink to connect the JNPA with the route. The port is planned to handle 298 mn t of cargo a year and accommodate container vessels with capacities of more than 24,000 TEU. Its development will require reclamation of 1,448 hectares and include nine container terminals with a combined berth length of 9,000 metres. The facility will also have four multipurpose berths of 250 metres each, four liquid bulk berths, one roll-on roll-off berth and a 200-metre tug and pilot craft berth. Plans further provide for a 32 km internal road network, a railway yard spread across 227.5 hectares and buildings covering 23,500 square metres. The scale of the planned infrastructure is intended to support the port’s cargo operations and associated road and rail connectivity.