Tie Up With Maruti for cars export, Large Coal Terminal and a Maritime University Plans, Mundra is set to become Multidimensional Port
The Adani Group is one of India s most dynamic business houses in India with an annual turnover of INR 17,000 Crore (US$4.3bilion). A leader in international trading and infrastructure development, Mundra Port is flagship enterprise of Adanis group.
Mundra Port, the biggest privately developed and operated Port in India, is fully equipped with the latest infrastructure measuring up to international standards. Mundra Port with a depth of 17.5 metres offers the deepest waters on the Indian coast. The Port has 8 multi-purpose and 4 container berths, an all-weather multi-purpose terminal, an IT based Integrated Port Management System (IPMS), SAP(presently in implementation phase) and best available services - Customs, Business Infrastructure and Safety Systems.
The Marine World talked with Capt Sandeep Mehta, CEO of Mundra Port & SEZ who had joined Sea in 1979 as a cadet.
Since joining the Adani Group in 2004, he has steered aggressive expansion plans to bring Mundra Port which is a Deep Water, Multi Purpose , Largest private Port in India to become a Maritime Masterpiece of India.
The Marine World Chat
Capt Sandeep Mehta
CEO, Mundra Port and SEZ
Apart from Container Gateway to the North, What are Mundra Ports plans to handle other cargoes?
Mundra is currently building Coal Terminal to handle coal import requirements of Power generation Plant backed by Tata Group. We also have Adanis own 3600 MW power plant in Pipeline. Internal capacity of Handling Coal Import will be 25 million tons Per Annum.
This Coal terminal will be one of the biggest coal discharge terminal in the world and will be able to accommodate cape Size Vessels and will see the movement of more than 200 Bulk Carriers a year.
Containers Terminals, Coal Import and …?
We are in advanced stages of commissioning additional SBM facility to meet the Crude Oil requirements of HPCL so Mundra will be established as the biggest Port in India in terms of Volume as well as versatility to handle multiple types of cargo.
These big projects are import oriented, tell us about Mundra Plans to facilitate world class automobile export facility from India.
We have Recently concluded an Agreement with Maruti Suzuki and we will be establishing Mundra as the Automobile Hub to export 2.5 lakhs vehicles every year.
These RORO berths will cater to Maruti Suzuki growing export plans and the facilities will rank amongst the best in turnaround time, productivity and automation.This facility will require huge infrastructure investment to strengthen railway network and storage facilities in the area.
What others areas of development activity will be top of the agenda for the group in coming years?
We are committed to all inclusive growth of the region and Indian port facilities as a whole. We will be investing heavily in ancillary infrastructure like schools, hotels, housing facilities near the port to attract the best talent and establish the region not only as a port but a trading hub as well.
Been a seafarer Yourself, what career prospects do you see for Maritime professionals in the country.
Apart from sea going Jobs, there is a huge potential for Mariners in shipping arena. Traditionally Pilots, Harbour Masters and Port Mangement have been seafarer’s domain but with value added education acquired on Job or in Universities, Shipping Community in India is at the threshold of realizing their career potential.
What are your plans to augment Maritime Training facilities?
Mr Bakul Dholakia of IIM has recently joined hands with our group to establish a World Class Maritime University and training establishment that will provide value added Maritime and Port Education in India. This facility will not only cater to Our Internal requirement but will emerge as a centre of excellence in research and trade education field.
