Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), India’s premier container port, organized a media meet chaired by Shri Sanjay Sethi, IAS, Chairman, JNPA in the presence of Shri Unmesh Sharad Wagh, IRS, Dy. Chairman, JNPA, on the completion of seven years of Sagarmala – the flagship programme of the Ministry of Shipping initiated by the Government of India in the year 2015. JNPA has undertaken various projects aligning with the five pillars of the Sagarmala Programme – Port Modernization & New Port Development, Port Connectivity Enhancement, Port Led Industrialization, Coastal Community Development and Coastal Shipping.
The Sagarmala initiative has successfully enabled the Indian ports to handle large volumes by making them more efficient and reducing the turnaround time of containers. Numerous projects have been undertaken across various categories such as port modernization, rail, road, cruise tourism, RORO, ROPAX, fisheries, coastal infrastructure and skill development. Due to the immense potential in Maharashtra’s coastal region, 131 projects worth Rs. 1.05 lac crore have been proposed to be implemented in Maharashtra.
Speaking at the occasion, Shri Sanjay Sethi, IAS, Chairman, JNPA, said, “JNPA plays a pivotal role in the governments’ initiative of the Sagarmala to boost the port-led industrialization. JNPA has multiple projects under Sagarmala based on the four-fold view- to change dynamics & reduce logistics costs in India, boost overall economic development through ports and empower coastal communities put across by the ministry.”
“Acting as the major catalyst for the trade and shipping industry, JNPA’s projects like the fourth container terminal, JNPA SEZ, Dry Ports at Wardha and Jalna, additional liquid cargo jetty, and many more will foster port’s ease of doing business and take Indian EXIM to greater heights,” he added further.
During the conference, a video and presentation on the numerous projects undertaken by JNPA under Sagarmala Programme were presented to the media, followed by an interactive session with the Chairman.
Maritime infrastructure plays a vital role in the nation’s economy; aligning with the Maritime India Vision 2030, Sagarmala initiatives will further boost infrastructure and drive investments to improve regional connectivity to aid trade. The Sagarmala initiative will further enable the ports to meet global standards and play a crucial in bolstering the nation’s economic development.
