JNPT To Infuse Rs 500cr For Container Terminal Expansion

Mumbai: India''s premier container port Jawaharalal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) will be having a one more container terminal in addition to its existing three container terminals. The port is already in the process of building Rs 5,000 crore fourth container terminal in which over 40 players have evinced their interest. JNPT would extend the existing container berth operated by JN Port itself and Dubai Ports World by 330 metre. The estimated cost of the project was Rs 500 crore. Following the approval of MoS, the JNPT board will call global tenders for developing this container berth as exclusive and dedicated box facility. The port recently appointed UTI Bank as an advisor for techno economical feasibility study. The consultant was also studying various options like handling of RO-RO vessels at berth. JN Port had earlier carried out model studies through the Pune-based Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) for reclamation work at the north.The terminal will give great relief to users. Once completed this container berth was likely to handle about 7.2 million tonne (ie 600,000 twenty-foot container units) per annum. It was likely to become operational by 2008. In view of expected growth in container traffic and shorter turnaround along with optimum utilisation of feasible water front area, difficulties in container stacking would be reduced.