"JSW Infrastructure Eyes Gujarat Entry with Greenfield Port Project"

Port operator JSW Infrastructure is gearing up to venture into Gujarat with plans to invest in a greenfield port, marking its debut in the state's maritime landscape. Gujarat, renowned for its robust infrastructure and burgeoning manufacturing sector, has emerged as a hotspot for investments, evident from the overwhelming response garnered at the recent Vibrant Gujarat summit, where investment commitments soared over ₹26 lakh crore.

Despite Gujarat's formidable port infrastructure, dominated by key players like Adani Group's Mundra Port and the public sector Kandla Port, along with 48 non-major ports overseen by the Gujarat Maritime Board, JSW sees ample opportunity for modern port development in the state, given its stature as a pivotal trade gateway and home to numerous industrial giants.

During an analyst conference hosted by Kotak Institutional Equities, attended by over 1,000 institutional investors and 200 companies, JSW Infrastructure's management unveiled its strategic vision, emphasizing growth through greenfield investments. The company, which currently operates 10 ports and terminals across India and one in the UAE, with a cumulative operational capacity of 170 million tonnes per annum, aims to bolster its portfolio through both greenfield and brownfield ventures.

Highlighting its ongoing greenfield projects, JSW revealed plans for a ₹4,000 crore investment in the Keni port in Karnataka, slated for commissioning within the next 4-5 years, and a ₹2,000 crore investment in the Jatadhar Port in Odisha, expected to commence operations within three years pending the signing of a concession agreement.

In addition to its Gujarat endeavor, JSW Infrastructure has also pursued opportunities in Maharashtra, particularly in Palghar district, where it proposed the construction of a port in Murbe at a cost of ₹4,259 crore. The Maharashtra Maritime Board has initiated a global tender process under the Swiss Challenge method, inviting bids for the port's development. JSW Infrastructure holds the option to match the highest bid among the responses, with the bidding deadline set for March 22 and bid openings scheduled for March 27.

HBL