The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) at Uran in Navi Mumbai has made history as the first Indian port to surpass the 10 million TEU mark in container handling capacity. This milestone underscores JNPA’s status as the country’s leading container port and highlights its growing importance in global maritime trade and multimodal freight connectivity.

JNPA handles more than half of India’s container traffic and operates five container terminals, two liquid cargo terminals, and two general cargo terminals. In 2024, the port managed 7.05 million TEUs and moved 15.39 million tonnes of containers along with 16.64 million tonnes of total cargo in the first two months of the financial year 2025–26.

Its nearest rival, Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd’s Mundra Port, has four container terminals with a total capacity of 7.5 million TEUs and plans for further expansion. Together, these two ports handle over 65 per cent of India’s container cargo.

JNPA Chairman Unmesh Sharad Wagh noted that further expansion at the Uran site is not feasible due to its city port location and lack of seafront availability. To address this, the port authority plans to develop Vadhvan Port, situated 150 kilometres away, focusing on optimising resource use, reducing customer costs, and adding new facilities at the special economic zone (SEZ).

He also highlighted JNPA’s excellent connectivity with highways and the creation of a centralised parking plaza for goods, offered at almost no cost. Furthermore, JNPA is constructing an empty container yard to enhance operations.

Regarding SEZ development, JNPA manages 266 hectares, with 500 acres available for sale. Around 75 per cent of this land has already been allotted, with developers including JSW, DP World, and Fine Organics.

Sustainability remains a priority, with the port currently running on 60 per cent renewable energy, aiming for 100 per cent in the future. Initiatives such as replacing diesel trucks with electric vehicles for port operations are underway.