- Modi visits iconic Afsluitdijk dam in Netherlands, signs Letter of Intent for technical cooperation on Gujarat’s Kalpasar Project
- Kalpasar envisions a 30-kilometre dam across Gulf of Khambhat to create a massive freshwater reservoir from seven rivers
- Deal gives India access to over 90 years of Dutch expertise in coastal engineering and flood management
- Project linked to Dholera Smart City, India-Middle East-Europe Corridor and Arabian Sea strategic interests
- Massive challenges remain including environmental concerns, fishermen displacement and multi-decade construction complexity
The Hague, May 23, 2026 (Agencies) — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the iconic Afsluitdijk dam in the Netherlands has given fresh momentum to one of India’s most ambitious engineering undertakings — the Kalpasar Project in Gujarat — with the two countries signing a formal cooperation agreement to accelerate its implementation using Dutch expertise in marine infrastructure and water management.
The Netherlands marked Modi’s first stop in a tour of European countries, including Sweden, Norway, and Italy. Accompanied by Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, Modi toured the massive barrier dam, which has shielded the Netherlands from devastating floods for nearly a century while simultaneously serving as a hub for freshwater storage, inland transport, and renewable energy generation.
A Letter of Intent was signed between India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Netherlands’ Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, establishing direct technical collaboration for the Kalpasar Project and aiming to accelerate its implementation using Dutch expertise in marine infrastructure and flood management. The partnership builds upon the India-Dutch Strategic Partnership on Water launched in March 2022 and is expected to provide India access to more than 90 years of Dutch experience in dam construction and coastal protection engineering.
The Kalpasar Project envisions constructing a 30-kilometre dam across the Gulf of Khambhat to impound the flow of seven major rivers — including the Narmada, Mahi, Sabarmati, and Dhadar — that currently empty into the sea, creating a colossal freshwater reservoir. The project was originally conceptualised during Modi’s tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister.
The Afsluitdijk is a 32-kilometre-long barrier dam that separates the North Sea from a freshwater lake while protecting low-lying regions from flooding — a defining feature that closely mirrors the core ambition of the Kalpasar Project, making Dutch technical support particularly relevant. Institutions like Royal Haskoning have already contributed to Kalpasar’s technical planning.
Modi described the visit as more than a diplomatic formality, highlighting on social media that “an area in which the Netherlands has done pioneering work is water management,” and that “the entire international community can learn a great deal from this.”
The Kalpasar Project carries enormous strategic and economic significance for India. If successfully executed, it would not only secure freshwater supply for one of India’s most industrially active states but also support the development of Dholera Smart City — a planned futuristic megacity envisioned as a semiconductor hub, green energy cluster, and logistics gateway. Analysts also note the project’s importance to the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, which would position Gujarat as India’s primary maritime gateway to Europe and the Middle East.
The project also carries a national security dimension, with a developed western coastline expected to strengthen India’s naval logistics, maritime surveillance capabilities, and strategic positioning in the Arabian Sea — particularly relevant given the growing Chinese footprint at Pakistan’s Gwadar port nearby.
However, the project still faces formidable challenges. Environmental concerns, potential disruption to marine ecosystems, displacement of fishing communities, sediment management, cyclone vulnerability, massive financing requirements, and the sheer complexity of multi-decade construction all remain significant hurdles. Even with Dutch expertise, experts describe it as one of the hardest engineering undertakings India has ever attempted.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit and the signing of the Letter of Intent for the Kalpasar Project have opened new doors of opportunity for Gujarat,” the Indian government said in a statement, signalling that what was long considered a distant vision is now being treated as an active national priority.