The Supreme Court has asked the Union government to consider appointing an independent expert agency to evaluate the potential environmental impact of the Rs 76,000 crore Vadhavan Port project in Maharashtra’s Palghar district.
A bench comprising Justices A.S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan issued the interim order on Friday while hearing a plea by the National Fishworkers Forum, which opposes the project on environmental and livelihood grounds. Though the court did not halt the project, it noted the government’s assurance that no significant construction work is planned at this stage.
Attorney general R. Venkataramani, representing the Union government and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), urged the court to hear the authorities before issuing any order that could stall the project. He noted that the port had undergone multiple expert reviews and received necessary approvals. However, the Bench reaffirmed its commitment to environmental protection.
The Vadhavan Port project, approved by the Cabinet on 19 June 2024, was later inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 30 August 2024. Vadhavan Port Project Ltd (VPPL) is developing the port, a joint venture between the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB). JNPA holds a 74% stake, while MMB owns 26%. The port is expected to be operational in five years.
Positioned as a key trade hub, the port aims to strengthen India’s connectivity with Central Asia and Russia via the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (Imec). It is also expected to ease congestion at Jawaharlal Nehru Port, India’s busiest container-handling facility.
