APM Terminals Pipavav, also called Gujarat Pipavav Port Ltd, has announced the approval of Rs 7 billion in coherence with the expansion plan of the company. The stated investment will be utilised for upgrading the port’s existing facility to handle bigger ships and eventually expand the container capacity to 1.6 million TEUs.
The supply chain and the inland logistics is expected to significantly improve the reliability and reduce transit time going forward with the implementation of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC). This will improve the overall cargo volume for imports and exports. About 40 per cent of the total investments in the entire 1,535 km of WDFC is likely to be in Gujarat, which has around 37 per cent of the area covered of complete stretch.
Expressing his delight at the development, Jakob Friis Sorenson, Managing Director, APM Terminals Pipavav, said, “With this investment, we aim to strengthen our network and continue to provide best-in-class services to all our stakeholders. However, we are awaiting the confirmation of a concession extension from the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) to execute the expansion plan. The container yard capacity will be expanded once the cargo growth is visible post commissioning of DFC. We expect the world economy and business to follow an expanded 'U' curve and normalcy in business to be restored by the second quarter of 2021.”
The port operations are imperative to ensure that the supply chain remains uninterrupted and the availability of essential supplies is maintained. Even during the period of the nationwide lockdown, APM Terminals Pipavav successfully operated without reporting a single COVID-19 positive case amongst its staff.
APM Terminals Pipavav, also called Gujarat Pipavav Port Ltd, is one of India’s leading gateway port for containers, roll-on/roll-off (Ro/Ro), liquid bulk and dry bulk cargoes serving customers in the state of Gujarat with road and rail networks to the country’s hinterland and the northwest. The port’s current annual cargo handling capacity includes 1.35 million TEU