DP World is seeking an extension of its concession to operate the Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (NSICT) at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), as the existing agreement approaches its expiry. The company has confirmed that discussions on the extension are ongoing.
NSICT is one of DP World’s two container terminals at JNPA. The terminal was established under a 30-year concession and has played a significant role in the development of private container-terminal operations at India’s largest container port. JNPA records the concession agreement for the terminal as having been signed in 1997.
The extension proposal has been under consideration for several months. JNPA has previously evaluated a four-year extension of NSICT’s concession, which would keep the terminal operational beyond the end of its current tenure. The proposal has also included provisions such as an annual increase in royalty per container.
The issue has gained importance because DP World also operates the adjacent Nhava Sheva India Gateway Terminal (NSIGT). NSIGT operates under a separate concession that extends to 2031. Aligning the two concession periods could enable JNPA to pursue a larger, integrated terminal strategy in the future.
NSICT has a quay length of 330 metres, a maximum draft of 15 metres and a designed handling capacity of around 0.8 million TEUs annually. The terminal is equipped to handle large container vessels and forms part of JNPA’s wider container-handling infrastructure.
For DP World, retaining the terminal would allow it to maintain a substantial operating presence at JNPA, where container volumes continue to grow. The company has also invested in improving the environmental performance of its Nhava Sheva operations, including sourcing renewable power for its NSICT and NSIGT terminals.
For JNPA, the decision involves balancing the benefits of continuity with the longer-term objective of optimising terminal capacity and revenue. An extension could provide operational certainty while allowing the port authority to plan future terminal development without an immediate transition between operators.
The proposed extension is also being considered against the backdrop of India’s broader push to expand private participation and investment in major ports. Recent policy changes have provided greater flexibility around concession arrangements and infrastructure expansion at major ports.
A final decision on the extension has yet to be announced. If approved, the move would enable DP World to continue operating NSICT beyond its existing concession period while giving JNPA additional time to develop its longer-term strategy for the terminal and its adjoining facilities.