Pratik Bijlani –
On August 23, the Mumbai Port Authority conducted a special celebration at New Customs House in Ballard Estate, Mumbai, to welcome Mr Sarbananda Sonowal, Honourable Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. The visit was intended to kick off numerous significant projects and activities that will usher in a new era for the port.
In his welcoming remark, Mr Rajiv Jalota, IAS, Chairperson of the Mumbai Port Authority, expressed his pleasure in hosting the Hon’ble Minister and emphasised the organization’s long history. He emphasised the port’s commitment to becoming India’s leading cruise port and expanding its capabilities in accordance with maritime trends such as decarbonisation and digitalisation. He said, “The projects and initiatives being launched today will give you a flavour of this exciting new direction that the port is taking, while staying deeply grounded in its fundamentals as a port of call and a base for business and industry while preserving the rich culture and heritage of our area.”
Mr Nitish Kumar Sinha, IRS, Chief Commissioner of Customs, emphasised the change of Mumbai Customs from a regulatory organisation to a proactive facilitator of trade. He emphasised the importance of Mumbai Customs’ collaborative partnership with the Mumbai Port Authority, which has resulted in smooth and efficient port operations. Mr Sinha expressed appreciation for the minister’s attendance and assistance on this historic occasion.
During the event, Mr Sonowal via an online platform to launch testing operations for the newly constructed Third Chemical Berth at Pir Pau, lay the groundwork for the Shore Protection and Reclamation Project at Jawahar Deep, and inaugurate the Marine Oil Terminal’s SCADA and PLC Automation System.
The minister also announced the introduction of the iPortman System and Estate Operations Management System (EOMS) in collaboration with the Mumbai Port Sustainability Foundation (MPSF), as well as the construction of a global yacht sailing facility.
Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed to demonstrate a commitment to sustainable development and modernisation. These included an agreement between the Mumbai Port Authority, MPSF, and HPCL to develop a Green Fuel Ecosystem, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and MPSF to collaborate on emission management and decarbonisation, and a partnership with the Royal Bombay Yacht Club to improve passenger safety at the Gateway of India. In addition, an agreement was reached with the RPG Foundation to build gardens and heritage exhibitions at Ballard estate.
Land transfer documents were also handed over for other leasing arrangements, such as plots leased to Mahanagar Gas Limited and Aegis Logistics Ltd. for liquid bulk storage, lease renewals for Mazgaon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd., and land allocation for ONGC’s fast crew boats. These efforts require a total expenditure of Rs. 4000 crore and are estimated to generate 1.45 lakh person-days of employment, helping Mumbai’s economy and maritime infrastructure.
Mr. Sonowal addressed the audience near the close of the event, emphasising the significance of these measures for Mumbai Port’s future development. “This gives you a clear indication of how Mumbai Port Authority is working and how they have been progressing as per the demand of the present-day situation because, in this era of competition, we’ll have to compete with the best of the best,” he mentioned. He praised the Mumbai Port Authority’s success and emphasised its position in India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat goal, specifically stressing the Sagar Mala Project’s continuous contributions to shipbuilding, skill development, and port facilities.
The minister’s visit was not only a celebration of the port’s accomplishments, but also a clear indication of its strategic path towards modernisation and sustainability, paving the way for the Mumbai Port Authority to become a global marine commerce leader.
Marex Media