'JNPA aims to cut logistics cost, better turnaround time'

As a key figure in one of India's premier ports, _Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) Chairman Unmesh Sharad Wagh's insights are invaluable in understanding the maritime landscape and its broader implications.

In this exclusive conversation, he sheds light on his vision for JNPA and delves into issues shaping the ports industry. Excerpts:

How important is it to have a new port at Vadhavan

Almost 75% of our export-import of industrialised goods is through three ports - JNPA, Mundra and Pipavav. And the capacity is increasing at a rate of 7.5% to 8% every year.

With our expansion, both JNPA and Mundra will be full in 2029. So it is critical for us to build one port immediately.

We will start construction of Vadhavan port in June. All the clearances have been taken and only the cabinet clearance is pending due to elections.

The new port will be three times the size of JNPA and will be the fifth or sixth largest in the world. Among the top 10 ports in the world, seven are Chinese. Others are Singapore, Busan and Jebel Ali. We are nowhere and we plan to develop our country like China. It will be a major container port and a clean port since we will not be transporting coal, iron ore from there.

How many terminals and berths will it have?