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JNPT: Port-focused to port-led development

JNPT: Port-focused to port-led development
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A port-based multi-product Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) will be a win-win situation for exim traders.

This industrial infrastructure project will be established on 277 hectares with a total public and private investment of about Rs 4,000 crore. This is being planned as a self-sustainable integrated development project having a potential of generating over 1.5 lakh direct and indirect jobs. The ambitious SEZ will be developed through JNPT-SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) under the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) mode and is scheduled to be completed within three years. With a focus on the upcoming sectors of India, the SEZ will develop Free Trade Warehousing Zone, Engineering Goods Sector, Electronics and Hardware Sectors, Non- Conventional Energy Sector, Multi-Services (IT and Healthcare) Sectors and Apparel and Textiles Sectors.

The SEZ will compete with private firm Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd located near Mundra Port spread over 6,473 hectares. By the time the SEZ comes up, the port will also have its fourth terminal ready to handle the increase in volume. The Rs 8,000-crore terminal a PPP project being developed by the Port of Singapore Authority will have the capacity to handle 4.8 million standard containers a year. Another project, the 330-metre standalone terminal with a capacity to handle eight lakh containers, is being implemented by DP World, Dubai, one of the existing private terminal operators at JN Port. The berth is expected to be ready by December 2015. With all these projects on stream, JN Port, which celebrated its Silver Jubilee in May, hopes to achieve its traffic target of 10 million containers (TEUs) by 2017.

The port also plans to set up a 26 million tonne liquid cargo terminal with an estimated cost of Rs 2,496 crore.

To improve connectivity, which is a major issue hurting port users, JNPT is also taking up a road development project jointly with NHAI and CIDCO with an investment of Rs 1,926 crore.

The Ministry of Shipping has decided to execute this project on EPC mode through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). The project has been undertaken under the National Highway Development and port connectivity programme of the Union government. Due to rapid development in the area on account of development of JN Port, JNPT-SEZ, and the proposed international airport, etc., it was felt necessary to augment the carrying capacity of the existing road network to 6/8 lane configuration by providing improved facilities comprising flyovers, railway over-bridges, interchanges, etc., for uninterrupted flow of traffic plying on the road network connecting the port and the national highways.

Accordingly, it is now proposed to develop this road network to 6/8 lane configuration with service roads. The NH-4B, Amra Marg and SH-54 were earlier developed to a four-lane facility by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) through the SPV comprising NHAI, JNPT & CIDCO.

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