PM inaugurates PSA’s Bharat Mumbai Container Terminals at JNPT

February 19, 2018: The fourth container terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), PSA’s Bharat Mumbai Container Terminals (BMCT) was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He officiated the BMCT opening remotely from the site of the future Navi Mumbai International Airport where he had earlier launched the new airport’s construction. The Prime Minister said globalisation is a reality of our times and to keep pace with globalisation, we need top quality infrastructure. He said that the Sagarmala project is ushering not only development of ports but also port-led development. The Government of India is devoting significant efforts towards the development of waterways.

Tan Chong Meng, Group CEO of PSA International, said, “We are highly honoured by the prominence placed upon Bharat Mumbai Container Terminals by the Government of India and by Prime Minister Modi. They have fittingly regarded BMCT as a major port investment that will give rise to India’s largest container terminal when it completes its Phase 2 expansion to realise a total of 4.8m TEU annual container handling capacity.

“Indeed, BMCT will consolidate Mumbai’s position as the premier seaport gateway for India and elevate it to be an international hub of call. BMCT is both a milestone in India’s port infrastructure development to support its 'Vision 2022' and a crucial sea node that will facilitate the movement of global trade and commerce.”

BMCT’s Phase 1 development is currently operational with a quay length of 1,000 metres, six super post-panamax cranes, the deepest berths and largest rail yard in Jawaharlal Nehru Port. It is capable of accommodating some of the largest container vessels afloat and aims to offer flexibility and scale for shipping line customers and port users. The gate complex has eight in-gates and eight out-gates and provides paperless transactions, weighbridge and radiation detection facilities.

Two regular shipping services now call at the terminal: The Swahili Express Service operated by CMA-CGM and Emirates Shipping Line, linking India and East Africa; and Indian Ocean Service operated by Hapag Lloyd, Hamburg-Sud and CMA-CGM, which links India and the Middle East directly with North European ports. More services are expected in the coming months.