JSW Mangalore Container Terminal Pvt Ltd, the company charged with creating and operating the container terminal at New Mangalore Port via a public-private partnership (PPP) mode, is likely to begin commercial operations by the March-end. AV Ramana, Chairman of New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA), told the media that the commercial operations of the integrated container terminal at berth no 14 would take off by the fourth week of March. Currently, NMPA is handling nearly 1.5 lakh twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers every year. Once the JSW terminal is settled, the port can manage up to three lakh TEUs within one year. JSW's project at New Mangalore Port aims to mechanise berth 14 for container and additional clean cargo handling. The container terminal would be built in two stages for a total cost of Rs 280.71 crore. The phase-1 of the project, which began in January 2021 and is almost complete. KG Nath, Deputy Chairman of NMPA, said the mechanisation of berth no 14 is likely to boost efficiency, lower turnaround time and logistics prices, and make the supply chain seamless. As it is crucial to set up sufficient infrastructure for trade, NMPA has proposed to build a new berth no 17 for multi-purpose cargo handling. The estimated cost would be Rs 217 crore, and it would be executed through engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) mode. He said the project is expected to develop around 2,000 jobs. According to the detailed project report (DPR), berth no 17 is likely to produce a tonnage of 4.73 million tonnes yearly. The chairman said that NMPA is also working to construct a fishing harbour at Kulai, near the port, for Rs 197 crore. The project would employ 2,720 sea-going fishermen, and 1,280 persons in shore-based institutions and allied industries. Image Source Also read: Ports and shipping minister launches projects at New Mangalore Port