Port- based multi-product SEZ at JNPT

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for a port- based multi-product Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) at Sheva in Navi Mumbai recently. The industrial infrastructure project will come up on 277 hectares with a total public and private investment of about Rs 4,000 crore.

The SEZ is being planned as a Self-Sustainable Integrated Development Project having a potential of generating over 1.5 lakh direct and indirect jobs. The project is to be developed through JNPT-SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) under the Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) mode is scheduled to be completed within three years.

The prime minister also laid the foundation of a Rs 1926.57 crore port connectivity highway project along with the allocation of land for project affected persons. ). This project has been undertaken under the National Highway Development & Port Connectivity Programme of the union government and it is to be completed by December 2017.

Due to rapid development in the area on account of development of JN Port, JNPT-SEZ, and the proposed International Airport, etc. it was felt necessary to augment the carrying capacity of the existing road network to 6/8 lane configuration by providing improved facilities comprising of flyovers, railway over bridges, interchanges etc for uninterrupted flow of traffic plying on the road network connecting the Port and the National Highways.

With the new government at the centre led by Modi various infrastructure projects have been expedited. According to Modi, his government is ready to welcome FDI into shipbuilding. He also emphasised upon the importance of the coastal highway (Sagarmala) project and location of upcoming airports near big ports in order to facilitate trade.