JNPT seeks govt assurance on connectivity to dedicated freight corridor

Asserting that the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) was originally meant for its cargo, state-run container port JNPT on Thursday asked the central government to ensure private sector Mundra port run by the Adanis does not get precedence in connectivity through the project.

The largest container port in the country said Mundra getting connected first on the corridor will impact its business "adversely" as cargo in the hinterland will move to the Adani-run port, and sought the government's help to ensure it also gets connected to the DFC.

It's chairman Sanjay Sethi also made it clear that the project is running behind schedule and added that the Railway Board chairman had also visited the port in connection of the same.

"We've been pushing it because we are saying that if it goes to Mundra first, obviously I'm affected in an adverse way. That's a fact. We've been making a noise everywhere, that please expedite it," Sethi told reporters here.

The nearly 1,500 km western DFC will be connecting JNPT with Dadri on the outskirts of the national capital and aims to build dedicated railway lines to ensure smoother movement of containers from the port to the hinterland, and vice versa.

It also connects ports, including Kandla, Pipavav and Mundra, in Gujarat with the hinterland, but it is the Gautam Adani-run port which has already become the largest port by cargo handling and competes with JNPT, which can benefit the most.

Replying to a question on what happens if Mundra gets precedence, Sethi said, "From the government's point of view, if that (Mundra) comes first, they will do it first, but from JNPT's point of view what we are saying is that the original project is meant for JNPT."