How has the business been for JNPA last year and through this year?
We became India’s best-performing Port and crossed the benchmark of handling 5.68 Million TEUs, the highest ever achieved by JNPA. Jawaharlal Nehru Port became India’s first 100% landlord port as we successfully signed two concession agreements of the JNPCT Terminal and Shallow Water Berth & Coastal Berth.
Trends that will drive the shipping and logistics sector in the months to come?
Sustainability and green shipping will gain momentum in the days to come. The industry should focus on low- and zero-carbon ship fuels and digital tools to support the deployment of low- and zero-carbon vessels. A powerful combination of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data is now triggering spectacular advancements in the ports and maritime sector. Also, the need for the development of Mega Ports is gaining pace by the ministry. The two prime reasons to develop the mega Ports are that it will enable increased capacity & berth larger vessels that will eventually result in the rise of economic value.
Upcoming initiatives at JNPA to better serve the trade?
We are planning a common over-dimensional cargo (ODC) handling facility within the port limits, for which aspects like land requirements, investment needs, operators, etc., are being worked out. This will be a completely new, innovative, and time-bound project. One of the major key expansion projects is the Centralised Parking Plaza (CPP), which has greatly boosted Direct Port Entry (DPE). CPP is the first in India to have an OCR-enabled gate automation system, smart parking management system, and RFID readers installed at gates for a real-time update. Dormitory, canteen, and TT repair shop facilities are also available in CPP with 24 hrs Wifi facilities. All formalities of Customs etc., including open examination, are now done at the CPP, which has significantly reduced the time and, in turn, the cost. The SEZ and dry ports infrastructure has been completed, except for some minor works at Jalna. Keeping expansion in view, JNPA has proposed to develop the Vadhvan Port, enabling it to anchor larger vessels as it has a natural draft of 18 meters. This ambitious project with a deep draft port will give the advantage of economy of scale and will reduce the logistics cost, increasing EXIM trade of the Nation by about 302 MTPA by 2040 and connecting J N Port to the hinterland of northern and western India.
