Chowgules are setting up their first port in Jaigarh, on the West coast of India. This becomes the second port in the area with JSW having commissioned theirs last year
Jaigarh based in the Ratnagiri region on the West coast of India between Mumbai and Goa will soon see its second green field port taking shape in two year’s time. This second private port is being developed by the Chowgule Group which owns two ship yards in Goa and a ship owning company based in Mumbai.
The first port of Jaigarh developed by JSW Infrastructure Ltd, (part of Sajjan Jindal’s JSW Group) was commissioned in the middle of last year. JSW primarily set up their port to handle their captive cargo mostly coal imports which it requires for their mega thermal power plant based in the vicinity of the port. According to the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), government of Maharashtra which holds 11% share, both these ports are developed on a 50 years build, operate and transfer basis.
“This $ 140 million port project will take about 18 months to complete and will get commissioned by the end of next year,” stated Atul C. Kulkarni, CEO of Chowgule Ports & Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. “It will initially have two berths of 450 meters quay length, four gantry rubber mounted cranes as well as other state-of-the-art handling and operating facility. This clean port will be exclusively for containerised and break bulk cargo which is generated in plenty in the Kholapur – Satara – Belgaum - Ratnagiri industrial belt based in the vicinity of the port. Despite being a green field port this project does not involve heavy investment since the required land already belongs to us. Besides there is a natural break water and over 12 meter draft making ours an all-weather port.”
According to the MMB all statutory clearances have been obtained for this project including environmental, which invariably poses a big hurdle in port projects. The road connectivity will also improve tremendously by the time the port is commissioned next year since the present two-lane Mumbai-Goa hingway which passes through Jaigarh will be converted into four-lane. Chowgule’s have indicated to the government about their willingness to participate in this road expansion on a 50 : 50 cost sharing basis.
However, discussions are still underway for having rail connectivity to the nearest rail head which is 53 km away. Mr. Kulkarni informed that the survey has already been made and the feasibility study carried out. “We are still to hear from the government as to who will implement this rail project, he said. “We are awaiting government’s response on the operation and maintenance of this rail lines.”