A Young Port With Vibrant Hinterland

Foreseeing the immense opportunity that the hinterland has on offer, way back in 2009, JSW Infrastructure had commissioned a port at Jaigarh, and now it has set sight onto become the leading port operator in India with a formidable presence in India and beyond tapping opportunities in port led development, connectivity and infrastructure sectors.

- Sisir Pradhan

 

The western coast owing to its proximity to the Gulf of Aden has been at the forefront of port-led activities. While Gujarat with a coastline of 1,600 kms is dotted with multiple full-fledged operational ports, but its immediate neighboring state of Maharashtra on the contrary for long time relied heavily on ports off Mumbai coast and other states. With the state economy estimated to have grown at 9.4 per cent, and manufacturing and industry growth at 8.4 per cent and 6.7 per cent, respectively in 201617, Maharashtra needs some serious infrastructure upgradation to keep pace with the economic growth. Being the financial nerve centre of the country, and with a diversified economy consisting of agricultural, industrial, and EXIM trade, the state was in want of a modern, free-flowing and scalable port with enough draft to accommodate not only the existing ultra large cargo carriers but also be future ready to meet demands of trade growth. In later part of last decade a port with similar specification took shape at Jaigarh in Ratnagiri district. Located at around 131 nautical miles south of Mumbai and its choke a block population density, yet close enough to move cargo without any hindrance using single or multi-modal mode of transportation. Jaigarh’s proximity to Mormugao Port in Goa and the state of Karnataka gives it added advantage of extended hinterland and of course rest of Maharashtra and other neighboring states.