State-owned Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) has awarded a consortium led by Man Infraconstruction Ltd and Trident Agrocom Exports Pvt Ltd a prestigious Rs 284.19 crore project to develop an agricultural commodity-based processing and storage facility, according to ET Infra. This project, designed to strengthen the port’s export-import infrastructure, covers a 27-acre land parcel within the JNPA complex and will operate under a 30-year concession period, including 1.5 years of construction time.
Key project highlights:
- Purpose: To establish an integrated facility for the processing, storage, and transportation of agricultural commodities, including onions and grapes.
- Annual capacity: The facility is expected to handle up to 1.2 million tonnes of agro cargo annually.
- Revenue sharing: The consortium will share 11% of its revenue with JNPA.
- Significance:
- Caters to India’s eastern region and neighboring countries like Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal via coastal routes.
- Reduces wastage and rejection rates (currently 2% to 3%) due to inefficient logistics and substandard storage.
- Supports Maharashtra’s and Gujarat’s agro export-import trade by reducing diversions to Gujarat ports.
Strategic benefits:
- Logistics optimization: The project will utilize JNPA’s coastal and shallow berth services for efficient commodity movement.
- Economic impact: The facility targets a reduction of 7.7% wastage (0.8 million tonnes) in the Mumbai region.
- Global benchmarking: Aligns with facilities like Rotterdam and Shanghai, enhancing India’s agri-export infrastructure.
This pioneering project represents a significant step in enhancing India’s agricultural trade competitiveness and ensuring food security.
Disclaimer: This report is based on information published by ET Infra.
