NEW DELHI, JULY 26 : In a significant move to bolster India’s agricultural export and import capabilities, the country’s maiden integrated agri-export facility will be established at Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai, an official statement said on Friday.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has approved the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA)’s project worth Rs. 284.19 Crore for the Development of Export-Import cum Domestic Agricultural Commodity-Based Processing and Storage Facility at JNPA on PPP Mode.

The JNPA is set to establish an all-in-one state-of-the-art agricultural facility at the port, spanning 67,422 square meters. This pioneering facility will address inefficiencies in logistics, reduce multiple handlings, and extend the shelf life of agricultural products, the statement said.

Expected benefits include better prices for agricultural goods, job creation, and overall growth in the agricultural sector. It will empower farmers and exporters, stimulate demand, and foster rural development, it said.

The facility will cater to exports of prominent items like non-basmati rice, maize, spices, onion, and wheat. Additionally, as JNPA is a major gateway for frozen meat and marine products, the new facility will also benefit exporters of these products from regions distant from Mumbai.

Small exporters, in particular, will benefit from the port-based facility, improving their capabilities in logistics, container booking, cold chain logistics, and export operations. The estimated export capacity increase includes a frozen store of 1800 metric tonnes, a cold store of 5800 metric tonnes, and dry warehouses with a capacity of 12,000 metric tonnes for grains, cereals, and dry cargo.

This initiative aligns with the government’s vision of empowering farmers and fostering rural development, setting a precedent for future infrastructure projects that aim to support and enhance India’s agricultural capabilities, the statement said.

JNPA in Maharashtra is the country’s first major port operating entirely on a Landlord model with all berths managed through PPPs. It ranks among the top 100 global container ports, according to the Lloyd’s List Top 100 Ports Report.

Additionally, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways is developing one of the country’s largest ports, Vadhavan Port, with a total investment of about Rs. 76,220 crore. This Greenfield deep draft major port in Vadhavan, Palghar District, will include core infrastructure, terminals, and other commercial infrastructure in PPP mode.

The proposed Vadhavan port is a high-priority initiative for the Government and is designed to handle an annual cargo of 23 million TEUs or 254 million tons, boasting a natural draft of 20 meters to accommodate larger container vessels of up to 20,000 TEUs. Once completed, the project will rank among the world’s top 10 largest ports and serve as a significant green fuel hub, the statement said.

In Maharashtra, 16 projects valued at Rs. 790 crore have been completed, with Rs. 232 crore in financial assistance from the Sagarmala scheme. Currently, 14 additional projects worth Rs. 1,115 crore are underway, receiving Rs. 561 crore in assistance from the same scheme.(UNI)