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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday laid out a bold vision to position the state as a premier logistics and export hub through the Vadhavan Port and the proposed Vadhavan Airport, promising a transformation in how goods are moved and traded. Speaking at the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Summit 2025 in Mumbai on April 28, Fadnavis said, “The port and airport will change the entire way we conduct business,� citing the projects as key enablers of industrial and economic growth. The $9.1 billion Vadhavan Port, whose foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2024, is set to become one of India’s largest deep-water ports. Strategically located near Dahanu, it will be capable of handling ultra-large cargo and container vessels, directly connecting India to global shipping lanes. Fadnavis further revealed that the government also plans to build an airport near the port to boost multimodal connectivity. “A port and an airport together will create a huge ecosystem for businesses—especially those involved in import-export and manufacturing,� he said. The airport will be geared toward cargo handling and logistics efficiency, aiming to reduce transport costs and time. The CM said the port is expected to be operational within the next three to four years. 17 Districts to Be Linked Highlighting the strategic importance, Fadnavis said 17 districts in Maharashtra will be directly connected to the Vadhavan logistics hub. “Earlier, goods used to take 7�8 days to reach JNPT port from Nagpur. Now it just takes eight hours,� he said, underlining recent progress in state logistics infrastructure. Between 2014 and 2019, Maharashtra attracted $30 billion in infrastructure funding, and the CM confirmed that another $50 billion is being tied up through foreign institutional collaborations. “Infrastructure will transform our economy,� he asserted. Bullet Train Connectivity Fadnavis also linked the state’s flagship Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train project to the Vadhavan hub. “By 2028, we will be able to travel in the bullet train, which will also connect to Vadhavan, giving high-speed access to the new logistics corridor,� he added.