JNPA Becomes First Indian Port to Cross 10 Million TEU Capacity

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) at Uran in Navi Mumbai made history by becoming the first Indian Port to cross the 10 million TEU threshold in container handling capacity.

This achievement shows the port’s position as the country’s premier container handling capacity and highlights its increasing significance in global maritime trade and multimodal freight connectivity.

It handles more than half of the country’s container traffic and boasts 5 container terminals, 2 liquid and 2 general cargo terminals.

In 2024, the facility handled 7.05 million TEUs and moved 15.39 million tonnes of containers and 16.64 million tonnes of total cargo in the first two months of FY 2025–26.

Its closest competitor, the Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd’s Mundra Port, has 4 container terminals with a total capacity of 7.5 million TEUs, though there are plans for further expansion. Both ports together deal with more than 65% of India’s container cargo.

Unmesh Sharad Wagh, chairman of JNPA, said that the port cannot expand anymore as the seafront is not available, and it is a city port. Hence, they plan to develop Vadhvan Port, which will be 150 km away, where the focus will be on optimising the use of resources in all aspects of operations, decreasing costs for customers and new facilities at the SEZ.

He added that JNPA is well-linked with highways and has formed a centralised parking plaza for goods, almost free of cost. Additionally, JNPA is building an empty container yard.

He added that another concern is to develop the SEZ since they have 266 hectares, of which 500 acres can be sold. He added that 75% of it has already been given, and JSW, DP World and Fine Organics are the developers.

Sustainability is also a focus area, and the port is already run on 60% renewable energy, which will become 100% in the future.

Other efforts, such as introducing electric trucks to replace diesel trucks for carrying out port operations, are going on.

Operations at the port are fully digitised, and automation is also going on, including advanced tools such as digital twins used in the truck appointment system.

Efforts are ongoing to have 5 G-enabled systems, and investments are ongoing in anti-cyber and other security measures.

References: Construction World, Urban Acres

Source: Maritime Shipping News