The Bombay High Court has paved the way for faster construction of the Vadhvan Port Project by allowing the removal of mangrove patches required for an eight-lane access-controlled highway linking the upcoming port in Palghar district with NH-48. The decision is expected to accelerate one of India’s most significant port infrastructure projects.
The Court permitted the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to remove 208 mangrove trees located within the approach area of the near-shore reclamation zone after noting that all mandatory environmental, Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), forest and statutory approvals had been secured. The bench also observed that the project complies with compensatory afforestation requirements.
As part of the environmental mitigation plan, the project authorities have committed to planting 1.33 lakh mangroves across 30 hectares. In addition, more than Rs 4.83 crore has been deposited towards compensatory afforestation and other statutory obligations.
The Court emphasised that the highway is essential for providing seamless connectivity to the proposed deep-draft Vadhvan Port, which is being developed as a global shipping hub under the landlord port model.
With the legal clearances now in place, construction activities are expected to gather pace, strengthening India’s maritime infrastructure, enhancing trade capacity, and improving regional logistics connectivity while supporting the country’s ambition to become a leading global container port economy.
