MUMBAI: Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) is moving from Raheja Centre at Nariman Point to World Trade Centre at Cuffe Parade.

 

The new office will be inaugurated  by the Governor of Maharashtra, H.E. Shri K. Sankaranarayanan at 11 am on May 18, 2012.  The new office is on the 31st Floor.

 

There will be a traditional lighting of the lamp by the Governor and cutting of the ribbon to declare the premises open followed by a tour of the new office  and address the gathering.

 

The new office space is modern, large and spacious and it is indicative of the way JNPT is growing and moving ahead. For the last 32 years, the 11th floor Raheja Centre premises functioned as a regular  office.

 

However, with the growth of the Port, the space available was not enough hence the move to a more spacious office.

 

JNPT has created new records in 2011- 12 with respect to all performance criteria. The net profit before income tax was a record Rs. 892 crores (Rs. 106 crores more than the previous highest in 2010- 11). The total freight handled 65.73 million tons, containers handled 4.32 million TEUs were all records. The throughput of JNP Container Terminal operated by the Port’s employees exceeded one million TEUs, while its original capacity was only 0.87 million TEUs p.a. 

 

Looking at JN Port’s growth figures and the projects under execution/preparation (especially by   M/s Scott Wilson and Howe India Pvt. Ltd.) for future growth to five times the current capacity, one realises the enormous strides taken in the last year.

 

The dredging of the depth of the channel first to 14 metres and then to 17 metres (1st phase designed and supervised  M/s TCE, second phase with M/s Ernst & Young jointly) will enable the largest container vessels to berth there. Also in the pipeline are more terminal projects, which are under design.

 

Growth into a multi-purpose port is also approved in principle and is under planning. M/s L&T Ramboll is designing a higher capacity for liquid handling. The creation of a port-based SEZ of 2750 acres (1st phase 700 acres) is also under way. With JNPT thus poised to play an even more major role in global trade and many international business meetings held here, the move to the new premises is certainly timely.

 

The new office which has better facilities would help JNPT to hold meetings with its International and Indian customers as well as receive the numerous delegation from the industry from India and abroad which interact with JNPT frequently.