Press Information Bureau (PIB) of Government of India has just announced that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved fresh estimates for deepening and widening of the Mumbai harbor channel and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port channel – Phase II.
The PIB’s release said that the entire project, worth Rs. 2,029 crore (around $309 million), will be funded through internal resources of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) with market borrowing, if necessary.
“The work is likely to be implemented by inviting global tenders and to be completed within two years after its award,” PIB said.
Under this capital development scheme, the main channel will be extended from the current 33.5km to 35.5km and widened from 370m to 450m for its straight reach.
The draft of the channel will be increased by dredging work from 14m to 15m, the announcement said.
During the dredging operations, around 35 million m³ of material will be removed from these areas, including significant amount of rock dredging work.
Upon completion, the deeper channel will help the Mumbai harbor and JN Port to compete for large container ships, up to 12,500 TEUs, and also allow even greater service flexibility for vessels calling at the port.
The consultancy service for project management has already been awarded to M/S TATA Consultancy Engineering Ltd.
The port has successfully completed the Dredging Project Phase I in April 2014, including the deepening and widening works on the existing channel for accommodating vessels of +6000 TEU.
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