JNPA leadership explores new dedicated freight corridor infrastructure to speed up container evacuation

Chairman Gaurav Dayal and Deputy Chairman Ravish Singh inspect strategic railway stations and logistics hubs to enhance port connectivity to Bhiwandi.

In a major push toward optimizing cargo logistics and accelerating container evacuation from the port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) Chairman Gaurav Dayal, IAS, along with Deputy Chairman Ravish Singh, IRTS, and senior port officials, conducted a comprehensive field inspection of key railway infrastructure along the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) route.

The delegation visited the newly developed Kharbhav Railway Station to evaluate operational synergies for utilizing the DFC line. The strategic integration of Kharbhav is expected to streamline and expedite the movement of containerized cargo directly from JNPA to the major consumption and distribution hubs in Bhiwandi, significantly cutting down transit times and easing road congestion.

Following the inspection at Kharbhav, the senior leadership team toured the prominent Bhiwandi Warehousing Hub to gauge supply chain capacity, last-mile logistics efficiency and storage readiness. The site visit concluded with an inspection of the New Nilanje Railway Station, assessing its potential to serve as an additional vital freight node within the expanding rail-freight ecosystem.

Speaking on the operational visit, Gaurav Dayal, Chairman, JNPA, said efficient multimodal connectivity is the backbone of modern port operations. He said that by maximizing the potential of the Dedicated Freight Corridor through strategic rail nodes like Kharbhav and Nilanje, JNPA aims to offer seamless, faster and environmentally sustainable container evacuation routes directly to key commercial clusters like Bhiwandi.

Ravish Singh, Deputy Chairman, JNPA, said transitioning a higher share of container traffic from road to rail is crucial for reducing logistics costs and turnaround times, adding that the joint assessments reinforce JNPA’s commitment to building resilient hinterland connectivity that supports the growth of trade and industry.

This initiative aligns with JNPA’s broader mandate under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to drive integrated infrastructure development, boost operational efficiency and cement its position as India’s premier container port.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority is one of India’s premier container-handling ports and a key gateway for the country’s EXIM trade. JNPA currently operates five container terminals, NSFT, NSICT, NSIGT, BMCT and APMT, along with a shallow water berth for general cargo operated by NSDT. Its liquid cargo facilities include a terminal managed by the BPCL-IOCL consortium and an additional liquid cargo terminal developed by JNPA and operated by M/s JSW-JNPT Liquid Terminal Pvt. Ltd. The port’s coastal berth further strengthens maritime connectivity with other Indian ports and supports the growth of coastal cargo and container movement.

Spread across 277 hectares, JNPA also operates a strategically located multi-product Special Economic Zone (SEZ) equipped with modern infrastructure and facilities to support export-oriented industries and promote trade and investment. Looking ahead, JNPA is developing the Vadhvan Port, an all-weather, deep-draft, greenfield port in Maharashtra and the 13th Major Port of India.