Container Handling Capacity In India Is Set To Double In The Next Five Years, Potentially Creating 2 Million Jobs

Container Handling Capacity In India Is Set To Double In The Next Five Years: Sonowal

News: Container handling capacity in India is set to double over the next five years, reaching 40 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), according to Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. This expansion is projected to create two million job opportunities across the country.

Highlighting the government’s focus on shipbuilding and repair, Mr. Sonowal announced plans to establish dedicated clusters in Maharashtra, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Gujarat.

Additionally, over 3,900 acres in Kandla and VOC Port will be allocated for hydrogen manufacturing hubs, positioning India as a leader in clean energy.

Mr. Sonowal also noted improved port performance, with a 4.87% rise in traffic in 2024. Visakhapatnam Port now ranks among the top 20 globally, according to the World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index. The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) in Navi Mumbai is on track to become the first Indian port to achieve a container handling capacity of 10 million TEUs.

In a significant development, the addition of Vadhvan Port marks the first major port project of the 21st century in India. Once completed, it will be one of the largest deep-water ports with a capacity of 298 MMTPA, generating 1.2 million jobs and ranking among the top 10 container ports worldwide, enhancing international shipping connectivity and reducing transit times and costs.