(THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM)
Mumbai, August 15, 2024: Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) India’s Best Performing Port, celebrated Independence Day with patriotic zeal on Thursday. The Independence Day celebration commenced with the arrival of the chief guest Unmesh Sharad Wagh, IRS, Chairman, JNPA. Upon his arrival, he was presented with the ‘Guard of Honour’ by the CISF Senior Commandant, Ram Mohan at JNPA. The event was followed by the flag hoisting and the national anthem. Speaking at the occasion of Independence Day,Unmesh Sharad Wagh, IRS, Chairman, JNPA, stated, “Since inception, JNPA has given wings to the nation’s blue economy. From being India’s best-performing port to India’s first 100% landlord model port, developing India’s first port-led SEZ, to upcoming India’s first integrated agri import-export facility, and India’s first Mega Port – Vadhvan Port will also be developed by JNPA. JN Port is always a step ahead in spearheading the change in the country’s maritime and port sector.”He further highlighted JNPA’s sustainability initiatives to achieve the MIV 2030 target and JNPA’s commitment to the prosperity of the community. JNPA announced its support for 22 NGOs and charitable organizations focused on societal betterment. As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, JNPA will provide essential funding to these organizations, enabling them to scale their efforts and create a more significant impact across various sectors, including education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, and social welfare. He reiterated JNPA’s month-on-month performance growth. JNPA will also commence infrastructure development projects under its CSR initiative within the next two months, targeting all villages in and around Vadhvan port. To date, eight-gram panchayats have submitted their lists of required works, and we anticipate receiving submissions from the remaining panchayats soon.JNPA is ranked among the top ports in the world in terms of Vessel Turn Around Time and has succeeded in reducing the vessel turnaround time to 22 hours. At the same time, JN Port also made significant progress in reducing import-export dwell time and pre-berthing waiting time. The event also marked a major milestone in JNPA’s ongoing sustainability initiatives. Unmesh Sharad Wagh announced the launch of JNPA’s first Battery Electric Terminal Tractor (e-ITV) for Container Rail Operations (CRO). This launch is part of the port’s ambitious plan, revealed earlier this year at the Round Table Convention on Zero Emission Trucking in Mumbai, to transition its truck fleet from diesel to electric power. Over the next six months, JNPA plans to convert more than 15 trucks operating on Inter Terminal Rail Handling Operations (ITRHO) to electric terminal vehicles (e-ITVs). The newly introduced e-ITV is a 100% battery electric terminal tractor designed for heavy-duty operations, with a Gross Combined Weight (GCW) capacity of up to 75,000 kg. It boasts a range of up to 200 KM on a full charge and can be fully recharged in just two hours. The supporting charging infrastructure, provided by Energy in Motion, is now fully operational.The Independence Day celebration also observed the felicitation of the JNPA employees for their outstanding performance along with the felicitation of the officials from the APM Terminals as one of the terminal operators at JNPA for completing 20 years of success. All the JN Port Labour Trustees, Head of Departments (HoDs), Stakeholders and JNPA Employees enthusiastically participated in the Independence Day event and made it a success.