Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) registered a throughput of 352,735 TEUs in container handling in August 2020 as against 344,316 TEUs handled in July 2020. The overall traffic handled at JNPT during the month of August 2020 was 4.74 million tonnes as against 5.68 million tonnes during the same period last year.
India’s premier container port continued its steady surge in cargo handling with the easing of lockdown restrictions and pick up in the domestic economic activity. This progress indicates early signs of recovery which is very significant during the ongoing pandemic which has affected business across India.
After facing a drop of over 35% in cargo handling during the initial lockdown period, the decline has gradually come down to 16.61% in August.
From the start, JNPT took a host of measures for the stakeholders, port employees, shipping lines, and the local community. These timely measures have helped the port in improving its numbers month on month. JNPT handled a noteworthy 1,643,784 TEUs and 694 vessels in the lockdown period till August 31, 2020.
Shri Sanjay Sethi, IAS, Chairman, JNPT said, “Ports are an important link in the logistic chain and JNPort has efficiently played this role during the last couple of months and after facing steep contraction, is now on the road to recovery. At JNPT, we have taken various steps to keep the Port Ecosystem functional and for smooth working of the Logistic Supply Chain during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, which has helped our cause. Also by converting JNPT Hospital as Dedicated Covid Health Care Centre, we are trying to do our best in helping the local community to come out of this crisis”.
The premier container port is expected to drive the next phase of transformation and further looks to strengthen its position, achieve the goals and remain in the position of a leading port in the coming years.
