JNPT starts 2021 on a high, handles 465,084 TEUs in January 2021-Growth of 9.14%

NAVI MUMBAI: Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), India’s premier container port, handled 465,084, twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in January, clocking a growth of 9.14% percent over the same month last year, as the domestic economy rebounds with the start of the new year and easing of lockdown.

The total traffic handled at JNPT during the month of January 2021 was 6.50 million tons a growth of 9.98% as against 5.91 million tons handled in January 2020. This month’s traffic includes 0.82 million tons of Bulk Cargo as against 0.59 million tons in the same month of last year, an increase of 38.98%. During the month, 134,713 MT of coastal cement cargo was handled at shallow water Berth, surpassing the earlier highest of 113,560 MT in the month of February 2019.

The Centralized parking plaza at JNPT Handled 51,163 tractor trailers in January which carried 78,840 TEUs.

Shri Sanjay Sethi, IAS, Chairman, JNPT said, “JNPT is trying to reach its pre-Covid performance levels and the numbers reaffirms that JNPT will maintain this growth trajectory. We have taken a number of initiatives that have helped the port in improving its numbers. JNPT is the first port

where Port-led SEZ is evolving successfully and we are confident of attracting leading global companies for investing here at JNPT SEZ. The port has also taken steps for the finalization of JNPT SEZ –DPR. JNPT-SEZ is expected to generate Rs 4,000 Crores of investments and create direct employment opportunity for 57,000 persons.”

In another major achievement of January 2021, JNPT inducted a tug boat “Daisy Star” having Bollard Pull of 60 MT, that will provide assistance in handling vessels of various sizes, thereby providing more safety during handling larger ships. Also during the month, JNPT launched Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) at Port Operation Centre to monitor real-time Air Quality parameters. And became the First Major Port to sign Distribution Franchisee Agreement with MSEDCL.

The port has also floated tender, inviting offers for allotment of 16 plots in JNPT SEZ for Setting up Industrial Units and carrying out Authorized SEZ operations through E-Tender cum E-Auction. JNPT is looking forward to investors for participation and is confident of attracting leading global companies for making India a manufacturing hub as the infrastructure development underway in JNPT SEZ is as per the international benchmark.

JNPT will continue to support the country’s economic growth and perform its duties to maintain the growth trajectory of the port sector.