The protestors held banners, sloganeered as they marched to protest against Vadvhan port ahead of the foundation laying ceremony. 

Some residents had dressed in black while some took out a mock funeral procession in protest hours before the event took place. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in Mumbai, laid the foundation stone for Vadhvan Port on August 30 evening.

The government said that the Vadhvan port is set to be India’s largest deep-water port, with an investment of Rs 76,220 crore.

Vadhvan Port's strategic location will boost India's trade with Central Asia, Russia, and enhance connectivity through the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, the government said.

The new port is expected to alleviate the load on Jawaharlal Nehru Port, currently India's largest container-handling port, improving overall trade efficiency, it added.

Vadhvan Port will be linked with Dedicated Freight Corridors and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, ensuring faster and more efficient cargo transport.

From its inception, Vadhvan Port was planned as a green port, balancing economic development with environmental sustainability and supporting India's blue economy.