Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, has approved the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority’s (JNPA) project to develop a private-public partnership (PPP) export-import cum domestic agricultural commodity-based Processing & Storage facility with an investment of Rs 284.19 crore.
This is a significant step towards boosting India’s agricultural exports.
JNPA now plans to build a 67,422 square meter, state-of-the-art, integrated agriculture complex at the port. This innovative facility will eliminate the need for repeated handlings, improve logistics inefficiencies, and increase the shelf life of agricultural products.
“JNPA’s construction of this all-in-one agricultural facility would improve prices for agricultural products, streamline logistics, and cut waste. “This is an important step in strengthening India’s agricultural sector and empowering our farmers,” Sonowal declared on Friday.
Important products like non-basmati rice, maize, spices, onions, and wheat will be exported from the plant. According to the official announcement, the new facility will assist exporters of meat and marine products from places outside of Mumbai, as JNPA is the primary gateway for frozen meat products and a significant gateway for marine items.
The port-based facility will help small exporters in particular by enhancing their capacity for export operations, cold chain logistics, container booking, and logistics. A 1,800 metric ton frozen store, a 5,800 metric ton cold store, and dry warehouses with a 12,000 metric ton capacity for grains, cereals, and dry cargo are all included in the projected increase in export capacity.
The statement went on to say that this program is in line with the government’s goal of empowering farmers and promoting rural development, and it will set the standard for upcoming infrastructure initiatives that would help and improve India’s agricultural skills.
JNPA is one of the leading container ports among the top 100 global ports (as per Lloyds List Top 100 Ports Report).
With an estimated total expenditure of Rs 76,220 crore, the Ministry of Ports and Shipping is also establishing Vadhavan Port on the coast of Maharashtra. At Vadhavan in the Palghar district, it would be developed as an all-weather greenfield deep draft major port.
Core infrastructure, terminals, and other commercial infrastructure will be developed as part of the project through public-private collaboration. The government has made the planned Vadhavan port a top priority. It can carry 23 million TEUs, or 254 million tons, of cargo annually and has a 20-meter natural draft, which allows it to handle larger container ships that can hold up to 20,000 TEUs. When the project is finished, it will be one of the top ten largest ports in the world and a major hub for green fuels.
With financial support of Rs 232 crore from Sagarmala to far, 16 projects totaling Rs 790 crore have already been completed in Maharashtra. The official announcement further stated that 14 more projects totaling Rs 1,115 crore are currently in progress, with support from the same scheme totaling Rs 561 crore.
