JNPA Deploys Electric Truck Fleet at Nhava Sheva Distribution Terminal

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), India’s largest container port, has introduced a fleet of electric trucks at the Nhava Sheva Distribution Terminal as part of efforts to reduce emissions in cargo transport. The deployment was launched during a flag-off ceremony attended by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, JNPA, and the JM Baxi Group.

The initiative is part of JNPA’s wider decarbonisation and energy transition strategy. By incorporating electric vehicles into port logistics, the authority aims to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and enhance operational efficiency across cargo movement corridors.

As part of the event, JNPA also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Isaac Centre for Public Policy at Ashoka University, Delhi. The agreement seeks to develop a Logistics Cost Index that will provide a reference framework for port authorities to determine tariffs through cost and port benchmarking across different cargo categories.

“Today, when JNPA takes a decisive step in electrifying its fleet of logistics vehicles, it sends a message far beyond port boundaries. It sends a message that India’s ports are ready to embrace the future, ready to pioneer practices that will set benchmarks for sustainability, efficiency, and innovation,” said Union Minister Sonowal. He highlighted ongoing efforts across India’s ports including solar and wind energy projects, LNG and hydrogen fuel infrastructure, and electrification of cargo-handling equipment.

He added, “In recent months, JNPA has consistently been in the news for the right reasons — be it ranking among the Top 25 Ports globally in the World Bank’s CPPI index, achieving records in container handling, or advancing key projects in the SEZ, digitalisation, and green energy. Today’s event adds another jewel to that crown of achievements.”

JNPA Chairperson Unmesh Sharad Wagh said, “The launch of this new fleet of EV trucks represents not merely an incremental enhancement of our logistical arsenal, but a paradigmatic leap towards a cleaner, greener, and more resilient future for port operations. As custodians of India’s largest container port, it is incumbent upon us to embrace innovation that reconciles economic dynamism with ecological responsibility. These EV trucks will serve as harbingers of a new era, wherein sustainability is not an adjunct to growth but its very foundation.”

According to JNPA, the initiative supports multiple national policy goals including India’s net-zero emissions commitment by 2070, the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan, and the National Logistics Policy. The deployment is also aligned with the PM Gati Shakti programme and the Maritime India Vision 2030.