JSW Jaigad port signs MoU with Konkan Railway.

The JSW Jaigad port located about 110 nautical miles south of Mumbai will soon get a 34 km rail connectivity with Konkan Railway, which will help enhance its cargo handling capacity from 10 million tonnes to 50 million tonnes.

Recently, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for building up the railway line was signed between JSW Jaigad Port Ltd., Maharashtra Maritime Board and Konkan Railway Corporation. The project cost for building the line would be Rs. 775 crore, in which the equity participation would be Rs. 194 crore.

Chairman and Managing Director of JSW Group, Sajjan Jindal told media persons on the sidelines of the MoU signing ceremony that the port has a capacity of about 10 million tonnes but currently it is operating at eight million tonnes due to lack of proper rail connectivity. When the rail tracks are laid in 30 months, the port can expand its cargo handling capacity to 50 million tonnes, he said.

Also speaking to the media Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis said that since Konkan Railway is running close to the coastline therefore the new rail connectivity will provide boost manufacturing sector on the coast, he said.

Fadnavis, also laid the foundation stone of a port terminal and logistics facility, which is being developed by Karanja Terminal and Logistic Pvt Ltd. at Karanja creek in Raigad district.

The port terminal would be developed on a 200 acre inter-tidal zone and it would be used for Defence logistics, Oil and Gas logistic support and general cargo handling.

Karanja Terminal and Logistics Pvt Ltd., is being jointly promoted by SKIL Infrastructure Group and overseas investors.


HBL