JSW gets mandate to develop Keni Port in Karnatakai

The Rs4,119-crore Keni Port, which is designed to handle cape-size vessels, will have an initial capacity of 30 million tonnes and serve exporters in the North Karnataka region, covering Bellary, Hosapete, Hubballi, Kalaburagi as well as South Maharashtra. 

JSW Infrastructure has received a letter of award for developing  a state-of-the-art, all-weather, deep-water greenfield port at Keni in Karnataka. The port project, to be implemented on a public-private partnership basis, will involve investment of Rs4,119 crore.

JSW Infrastructure, part of the Sajjan Jindal Group, said the proposed Keni Port will be an all-weather, greenfield, multi-cargo, direct berthing, deep-water commercial port catering to various types of cargoes. 

The port will be modern and environment friendly with mechanised facilities for handling cape-size vessels, it added. 

According to JSW infrastructure, the Keni port will have an initial capacity of 30 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), with substantial potential for future expansion.

It will serve exporters in the North Karnataka region, covering Bellary, Hosapete, Hubballi, Kalaburagi as well as South Maharashtra. 

The port will have close proximity to major ports - Mormugao Port in the north and New Mangalore Port in the south – enabling it to play a crucial role as a trade gateway for the region. 

The new port will have rail connectivity with new linkage to Konkan Railway line north of the Ankola station. The proposed railway alignment spans approximately 8 km, ensuring efficient transportation. Besides, it will have robust road connectivity to facilitate seamless cargo movement.

Aurn Maheshwar, CEO and joint MD of JSW Infrastructure, ex said the Keni Port, once operational, will become an integral part of Karnataka’s maritime infrastructure and play a pivotal role in addressing the growing import and export trade momentum in the region.