❖ The Union Cabinet has approved the development of an all-weather deep-water port at Vadhavan near Dahanu in Maharashtra.

❖ This port is designed to accommodate large container vessels.

❖ It will be jointly constructed by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB).

❖ The total project cost is approximately ₹76,220 crore.

❖ It will be developed in two phases, with the first phase expected to be operational by 2029 and the second by 2037.

❖ The port will have the capacity to handle 23 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units).

❖ This is a capability unmatched by any other port in India due to the natural limitations.

❖ It will feature nine container terminals, each about 1000 meters long, enabling it to harbour the world’s largest vessels, which carry about 24,000 TEUs.