RSA Global Opens First Phase of Empty Container Yard at JNPA

RSA Global India inaugurated the first phase of its automated empty container yard at Nhava Sheva on 28 September 2026, adding storage capacity of 5,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and monthly handling capacity of 7,500 TEUs. Located within the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) estate at Uran in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, the facility brings together empty container storage, maintenance and repositioning services.

JNPA Chairman Gaurav Dayal inaugurated the facility in the presence of shipping line representatives, terminal operators and transport stakeholders. Developed under the Ease of Doing Business initiative, the project occupies land held by RSA Global India under a 30-year lease.

The opening marks the first stage of a four-phase development covering 62 acres. Subsequent phases will expand storage and handling capacity, introduce additional equipment capabilities and increase automation.

What Services Are Available in Phase 1?

The first phase handles dry containers, refrigerated containers and special equipment. Tank container handling will be introduced in later phases.

Services available at the yard include empty container storage, maintenance and repair, pre-trip inspections, container surveys, fabrication and modification. The facility also provides repositioning transport and transfers to container freight stations (CFSs).

Maintenance and repair services have been available from the start of operations. Dedicated parking and driver facilities form part of the transport infrastructure, while high-mast lighting supports round-the-clock operations.

The project is intended to address fragmented empty container handling around Nhava Sheva, where the company identified congestion, variable truck turnaround times and limited visibility of available equipment as operational challenges.

Digital Systems Track Container Movements

A Yard Management System (YMS) provides shipping lines and terminal operators with real-time visibility of empty container stocks.

Gate-mounted optical character recognition (OCR) technology identifies containers entering and leaving the facility, reducing manual data entry. Quick response (QR) codes and radio-frequency identification (RFID) support the secure transfer of information to internal checkpoints.

These systems form the initial digital infrastructure for the yard’s planned expansion. RSA Global said the completed development would connect gate access, open storage, automated storage and retrieval, equipment handling and specialised facilities through a common digital framework.

Four-Phase Expansion Targets 75,000 TEUs a Month

Phases 2 and 3 will extend operations across the full 62-acre site, increasing storage capacity to 35,000 TEUs and monthly handling capacity to 50,000 TEUs. These stages will also introduce tank container services.

Phase 4 will add full automation, including an Automated Handling and Storage Facility (AHSF). At that stage, monthly throughput capacity is planned to reach up to 75,000 TEUs. The figure represents the project’s intended capacity at full development, rather than its current operating capability.

Dayal said empty container evacuation affected the speed at which terminals could clear vessels. He linked the development to JNPA’s throughput objectives and improved working conditions for transporters.

RSA Global Chairman and Co-Founder Ajay I. Shah said the project addressed a gap between growing port capacity and the supporting infrastructure needed to manage empty containers.

Infrastructure and Regional Coverage

The site has dedicated electricity and water supplies, alongside on-site sewage and effluent treatment plants. Security and safety provisions include continuous closed-circuit television surveillance, controlled access and fire safety infrastructure. The company also outlined plans to plant more than 2,500 trees.

The facility is expected to support approximately 750 direct and indirect jobs. Its stated service area includes Maharashtra, South Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, North Karnataka and Chhattisgarh.

The development follows a memorandum of understanding between RSA Global and the Government of Maharashtra. The Dubai-headquartered group had previously announced a proposed investment of ₹2,580 crore for the overall empty container yard project.