The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has identified nearly 108 acres in Niphad taluka, Nashik, but the acquisition is yet not finalised. Last year, JNPT was involved with a private, professional services firm to create a detailed project report (DPR) for the dry port project, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the project got delayed.

Bharati Pawar informed the media that the virtual meeting took place with the deputy chief minister and JNPT officials. She also said that the deputy chief minister has a positive outlook towards the project and has ensured to look into the issue. She will make efforts to speed up the project set up by the Centre, she added.

Previously, in October 2020, the industries minister told the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and JNPT to hold a joint survey to identify the proposed dry port land in Nashik, but that too was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The dry port project is to be connected with the railway. The containers from the dry port will be moved by rail to JNPT in Mumbai. In the place, there will be a customs clearance point, value-added services such as packing, loading and unloading, grading, cold storage, and other infrastructures needed to export the agricultural and industrial goods.