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PPA Chairperson Susanta Kumar Purohit reviews Phase I development, focusing on mechanisation, cargo handling efficiency and improved rail-road connectivity at JPPL berth.
Paradip Port Authority (PPA) Chairperson Susanta Kumar Purohit, IRSEE, reviewed the development and operational readiness of the Western Dock terminal at the Jindal Paradip Port Limited (JPPL) berth, with a focus on commissioning Phase I and strengthening cargo-handling infrastructure.
The review covered berth operations, infrastructure development and measures to improve terminal productivity. Discussions with senior PPA officials and JPPL representatives, including Deputy CEO Sandeep Jaiswal, focused on achieving full berth mechanisation, improving cargo handling efficiency and strengthening rail and road connectivity for cargo evacuation.
Phase I Designed for 12.5 Million Tonnes Annually:
Phase I of the Western Dock project is designed to handle 12.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). The wider project envisages a total dry bulk cargo handling capacity of 25 MTPA and is being developed under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model.
The review assessed progress towards commissioning and operationalising the facility. The planned capacity is intended to expand Paradip Port’s ability to handle dry bulk commodities and support cargo demand from industrial and trade sectors.
The successful berthing of deep-draft Capesize vessels was also highlighted during the visit, demonstrating the terminal’s role in accommodating large vessels for bulk cargo operations.
Mechanisation and Cargo Evacuation in Focus:
Achieving 100% berth mechanisation was a key priority during the review. Mechanised handling systems can support cargo movement and terminal productivity, while efficient evacuation arrangements are essential to managing volumes at the planned capacity.
PPA and JPPL representatives also discussed improving rail and road connectivity to facilitate the movement of cargo from the terminal to inland destinations.
The effectiveness of these connections will be important in limiting logistics bottlenecks and ensuring that cargo can be moved efficiently beyond the port. Terminal handling capacity and landside evacuation capability will need to work together as operations develop.
Safety, Sustainability and Technology:
The review also addressed sustainable port operations, compliance with safety standards, technology-driven logistics solutions and the integration of multimodal cargo evacuation systems.
These measures form part of the broader operational requirements for developing the Western Dock terminal. Coordination between berth operations, cargo-handling systems and inland transport links will be important to supporting reliable service delivery.
Western Dock to Expand Paradip’s Bulk Cargo Capabilities:
The Western Dock project is part of the ongoing development of Paradip Port’s infrastructure and cargo-handling capabilities on India’s eastern coast.
With Phase I designed for 12.5 MTPA and the wider project targeting 25 MTPA, the development is intended to increase dry bulk handling capacity and support maritime trade.
The next milestones will centre on commissioning Phase I, progressing mechanisation and ensuring effective rail and road connectivity. The extent to which the terminal achieves its planned throughput will depend on operational readiness, cargo demand and the efficiency of its wider logistics connections.
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DFC-enabled services link Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority with inland container depots across North India and Gujarat, aiming to expand rail freight capacity and improve cargo movement. DP World has launched two Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC)-enabled double-stack rail services connecting Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) with inland container depots (ICDs) across the National Capital Region (NCR) and Gujarat, strengthening rail connectivity between the maritime gateway and major inland markets. The first service, operational since September 2026, connects JNPA with DP World's inland container depot network at Pali/Rewari, Jhattipur–Panipat and Modinagar in the NCR. The second service links the port with ICD Sachana in Gujarat, extending double-stack rail connectivity to industrial and commercial centres around Ahmedabad. The new services are designed to increase rail freight capacity, support faster transit and improve the predictability of cargo movements for exporters, importers and domestic businesses. DFC infrastructure supports higher-capacity rail freight The services use Dedicated Freight Corridor infrastructure to facilitate higher-capacity double-stack container operations between JNPA and the inland terminals. By integrating port connectivity with inland rail infrastructure, DP World aims to improve cargo movement between India's maritime gateway and its major production and consumption centres. Hemant Kumar Ruia, Country Manager, Subcontinent (India), DP World, said the expansion of double-stack rail connectivity through the DFC was an important step towards improving logistics efficiency. He noted that connecting JNPA with key markets across the NCR and Gujarat could help businesses move cargo faster, reduce logistics costs and develop more resilient supply chains. Adhendru Jain, Vice President – Rail and Inland Terminals, SCO, DP World, said the expansion aligned with the government's National Logistics Policy and PM GatiShakti initiatives, which focus on strengthening multimodal connectivity across ports, rail networks and inland markets. He added that combining dedicated freight infrastructure, higher-capacity rail operations and DP World's inland network was intended to provide customers with more efficient and predictable cargo movement while supporting a cost-efficient freight system. Connectivity extends to major industrial clusters The new rail connections are expected to support a range of industries across Gujarat and North India, including automotive, engineering, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, textiles and home furnishings. For businesses serving these markets, additional rail freight options could improve the movement of containerised cargo between manufacturing centres, inland logistics facilities and the port. The availability of higher-capacity rail services may also help operators plan cargo flows more effectively. By providing an alternative to road-based long-haul freight, the services are intended to strengthen gateway-to-hinterland connectivity and support multimodal logistics planning. Actual gains in transit time and logistics costs will depend on route operations, cargo volumes, handling arrangements and coordination between port and inland facilities. Multimodal logistics remains a strategic priority The expansion reflects the growing emphasis on connecting maritime gateways with inland logistics infrastructure to improve the movement of goods across India's supply chains. The National Logistics Policy and PM GatiShakti initiatives seek to improve coordination among transport modes and infrastructure networks. Rail services that integrate port operations with inland container depots can contribute to these objectives by providing businesses with more transport choices. For DP World, the new connections add to its inland logistics network and extend double-stack rail services from JNPA to important commercial markets in North India and Gujarat. The next measure of success will be the extent to which the services attract regular cargo volumes, improve operational reliability and deliver competitive end-to-end logistics costs for customers. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates
Blue Dart Express has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) to explore the movement of express parcels on the Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut Namo Bharat corridor. The collaboration will examine how Blue Dart’s pickup and delivery network can move express parcels utilizing the transformational regional rail connectivity to serve businesses and customers across the National Capital Region. As part of the MoU, the two organisations will assess operational requirements, parcel volumes, station facilities, service standards and commercial arrangements to arrive at a feasible solution. The 82 km Namo Bharat corridor connects Delhi, Ghaziabad and Meerut. Its Sarai Kale Khan station is seamlessly connected to Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station and the inter-state bus terminal, while the Anand Vihar station also has been connected to the Anand Vihar railway station and two inter-state bus terminals. On the partnership, Shalabh Goel, Managing Director, NCRTC, stated, “Namo Bharat is a strategic intervention to transform the regional connectivity across the National Capital Region and help reduce vehicular congestion and air pollution. In a short span of time, this service has gained popularity among the people and is enabling easy access to jobs, education, healthcare and affordable housing. Our collaboration with Blue Dart gives us an opportunity to explore how this new-age infrastructure could also serve the freight ecosystem with the convenience and benefit of the people at the centre.” Pablo Ciano, CEO, DHL eCommerce Division, said, “India is a significant growth market for DHL eCommerce, and Blue Dart’s service quality and network are central to how we serve its customers. As businesses grow and supply chains evolve, we need to keep looking at how new-age infrastructure can strengthen that network. This collaboration with NCRTC is an opportunity to explore how the transformational regional rail connectivity could add value for customers in the National Capital Region.” Balfour Manuel, Managing Director, Blue Dart Express, said, “For our customers, reliability depends on how well every part of a shipment’s journey works together. This MoU gives us the opportunity to examine how Namo Bharat’s semi-high-speed regional connectivity could be integrated with Blue Dart’s pickup and delivery capabilities. We will work with NCRTC to identify where this approach could add value for businesses while supporting our efforts to develop more sustainable logistics solutions.” Such multi-modal connectivity makes the corridor relevant to the movement of shipments between established transport hubs and the businesses they serve. The proposed approach would set-up an optimal link between the semi-high-speed regional rail movement with Blue Dart’s existing pickup and delivery services, subject to operational feasibility and arrangements agreed by both organisations. Therefore, the collaboration forms part of Blue Dart’s continued work to strengthen its integrated transportation network and explore solutions that respond to evolving customer needs. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dedicated the final three sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) to the nation, completing the entire freight rail connection between Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT/JNPA) in Maharashtra and Dadri in Uttar Pradesh. The milestone marks a major step in strengthening India’s dedicated freight rail network and improving the movement of export-import cargo between ports and key industrial and consumption centres. The three newly completed sections—Sanand (North)-Makarpura, New Umbergaon-New Saphale and New Saphale-JNPA, span a combined 326 route kilometres and have been developed at an investment of more than ₹20,700 crore. Their commissioning completes the previously missing port-end link of the WDFC, enabling seamless freight movement between JNPA and the northern hinterland. The WDFC connects JNPA with Dadri, where it intersects with the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC). The EDFC, stretching from Sonnagar in Bihar to Ludhiana in Punjab, is already operational. Together, the two corridors establish a dedicated freight rail backbone across India’s western, northern and eastern regions. According to the Times of India, the combined operational DFC network covers around 2,843 km. The completion of the WDFC is expected to have a direct impact on India’s logistics efficiency. The corridor allows the deployment of double-stack container trains, facilitating higher cargo volumes per train while improving rail capacity and reliability. Direct rail connectivity to JNPA is also expected to accelerate the evacuation of export-import containers, strengthen links between manufacturing centres and ports, and ease pressure on Mumbai’s conventional railway network. The development is particularly significant for exporters, importers, container train operators, logistics parks, inland container depots and manufacturing clusters across western and northern India. It is also expected to support a greater shift of long-haul freight from road to rail, potentially lowering transportation costs and reducing road congestion. The scale of utilisation of the dedicated freight network underscores its growing importance. Railway data cited by the Times of India shows that operational DFC stretches had handled approximately 5.2 lakh freight train trips as of August, averaging about 435 trains a day. The network had generated around 658 billion gross tonne-km and 360 billion net tonne-km. With the WDFC now fully connected from JNPA to Dadri, India’s freight infrastructure enters a new phase in which capacity, operational efficiency and greater rail-based cargo penetration will become key measures of the corridors’ impact on the country’s logistics and supply-chain ecosystem. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
