MUMBAI: Construction of a 10.14-km-long breakwater for the upcoming Vadhvan Port in Palghar district moved a step closer on Tuesday, with Afcons Infrastructure receiving a Rs 5,301-crore contract for what is set to become the world’s second-longest breakwater upon completion.The massive marine structure is expected to provide critical protection to the proposed deep-draft port from rough sea conditions, enabling safer vessel operations and helping establish Vadhvan as one of the world’s largest container ports.The port is planned to have a handling capacity of 23.2 million TEUs, significantly enhancing India’s cargo-handling capabilities and strengthening its position in global maritime trade.The contract was awarded by Vadhvan Port Project Ltd (VPPL), the special purpose vehicle developing the greenfield port on Maharashtra’s coast.Calling the project a strategic milestone, Afcons Infrastructure executive chairman Krishnamurthy Subramanian said the breakwater would be a key enabler of India’s ambition to emerge as a global maritime hub.He said the award reflected the company’s expertise in executing complex and large-scale marine infrastructure projects.Afcons managing director S Paramasivan described the project as one of the world’s landmark marine infrastructure ventures and said its execution would showcase India’s growing capabilities in delivering globally significant engineering projects.Vadhvan Port has been envisioned as India’s largest public port and among the world’s biggest container ports. Once operational, it is expected to handle increasing trade volumes and improve connectivity with major international shipping routes.Afcons, the flagship infrastructure engineering and construction company of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, has previously executed several marine projects in India and overseas, including works at ports in Oman, Gabon and Kuwait.According to Engineering News-Record (ENR), USA, the company is currently ranked as the world’s eighth-largest marine and port facilities contractor.It also features among the top international contractors globally, with operations spanning 31 countries across South Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the CIS region.
