Sarbananda Sonowal Unveils Major Sustainable Initiatives at Jawaharlal Nehru Port

The second MoU between JNPA and Gateway Terminal India (GTI) supports sustainable initiatives at the port.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated three rejuvenated freshwater lakes at Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPA), emphasizing their role in rainwater harvesting and habitat restoration. The lakes, now named in honor of revered Maharashtra saints—Saint Dyaneshwar Maharaj, Saint Eknath Maharaj, and Saint Namdeo Maharaj—are part of JNPA’s broader sustainability initiatives.

Sonowal also reviewed key infrastructure projects and attended the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). The first MoU, involving JNPA, Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), and Vadhavan Port, aims to secure financing for infrastructure development. The second MoU between JNPA and Gateway Terminal India (GTI) supports sustainable initiatives at the port.

Highlighting the significance of India’s ports in economic growth, Sonowal stated, “Our ports are our country’s greatest assets that must be harnessed to power economic growth under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The sustainable efforts at our ports are key to advancing India's maritime infrastructure and contributing to the nation’s growth under the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision.”

Sonowal also laid the foundation for a Smart SEZ project aimed at enhancing port security, efficiency, and sustainability through advanced technologies. As part of the event, he planted a sapling under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative at the JNPA SEZ.

The Minister issued Letters of Intent (LoI) to SEZ concessionaires and announced the expansion of JNPA's liquid cargo handling capacity with the introduction of Additional Liquid Cargo Berths (ALCB) under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. This expansion will increase JNPA's liquid cargo handling capacity from 6.5 MMTPA to 11 MMTPA.

Additionally, Sonowal launched the Vadhvan Skilling Program's WhatsApp ChatBot, designed to facilitate access to training programs and employment opportunities related to Vadhvan Port. The Vadhvan Port project is expected to create around 10 lakh employment opportunities, further empowering the local community and enhancing workforce development.