The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, on Wednesday flagged off India’s first fleet of electric heavy trucks with swappable batteries at the Nhava Sheva Distribution Terminal, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA). The move positions JNPA as the Indian port with the largest EV truck fleet, advancing sustainable logistics.

A heavy-duty battery swapping station was also commissioned, supporting JNPA’s plan to convert 90 per cent of its internal fleet of around 600 heavy trucks by December 2026.

During the event, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between JNPA and the Isaac Centre for Public Policy (ICPP), Ashoka University, Delhi, to develop a reference framework for port authorities to benchmark tariffs across cargo types and commodities.

Shri Sonowal said, “By electrifying its logistics fleet, JNPA signals that India’s ports are embracing the future. Across the country, ports are deploying solar and wind power, LNG and hydrogen fuel infrastructure, and electrifying cargo handling equipment. Under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India’s maritime sector is not only keeping pace with global trends but setting new benchmarks in sustainability and efficiency.”

The first batch of 50 state-of-the-art EV trucks was flagged off, with the fleet expected to expand to 80 by year-end. Shri Unmesh Sharad Wagh, Chairperson, JNPA, and CMD, VPLL, said, “This fleet represents a paradigmatic leap towards cleaner, greener, and more resilient port operations. Sustainability is not merely an adjunct to growth but its foundation.”

JNPA, handling nearly half of India’s container trade, is demonstrating alignment with national energy transition goals, supporting the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan, reducing emissions and noise, and establishing a replicable benchmark for other ports under PM Gati Shakti and the National Logistics Policy.