Mr Unmesh Sharad Wagh, IRS, Deputy Chairman, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), will be taking over additional charge as Chairman of JNPA with effect from January 3, 2024. This follows Mr Sanjay Sethi, IAS, completing his tenure as Chairman on January 2. He will be returning to his parent Maharashtra cadre, it is learnt.
Since taking charge as Chairman in January 2019, Mr Sethi has initiated various measures to make the leading port of the country into a smart, sustainable and customer friendly facility. Some of the initiatives for Ease of Doing Business, like implementation of ITRHO at all the port terminals, introduction of Logistics Services Provider services for competitive logistics at the port, web-based port entry system etc. have led to significant improvement in KPI of the port at par with global standards and resulted in overall reduction in cost and time.
Importantly, he successfully oversaw the transformation of the facility into India’s first completely landlord Major Port, with the JNPCT, coastal and shallow berths given out on PPP mode. Besides, he has driven the progress of the ambitious port-based SEZ project, with a number of plots now leased out, finalised the development of the Centralized Parking Plaza, and was also actively involved in taking forward the development of the mega satellite port at Vadhavan in the Palghar district of Maharashtra.
Another highlight of his tenure was the continuous operations and trade facilitation during the Covid pandemic, despite the many challenges faced.
The port’s all-round cargo volumes also saw continuous growth during the period.
Mr Unmesh Sharad Wagh, Deputy Chairman since February 2020, has been a key partner and collaborator with Mr Sethi in bringing about the transformation of JN Port in the last few years. Now with him at the helm, one can look forward to the port attaining further heights of success in the times ahead.
Mr Wagh was Commissioner of Customs (Port) in Kolkata before moving to Nhava Sheva. He has nearly 20 years of experience in Customs and Central Excise in multiple, important positions.
Source: Exim News Service: Navi Mumbai, Jan. 1