In a bid to improve India’s health and safety for the trade and transportation industry, APM Terminals (APMT) Mumbai has launched a health centre for tractor-trailer drivers serving the entirety of Nhava Sheva at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), near Mumbai.
The medical facility aims to provide the trucking community with free access to basic hygiene, health and sanitation facilities.
The clinic’s services are available to all truck drivers serving the four JNPT terminals, including APMT Mumbai.
Read: APMT Mumbai Wins Container Terminal of the Year
Yash Vardhan, Director of the Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), said: “This initiative will help in strengthening the most crucial link impacting India’s logistics chain and the society at large.”
Pradip Agrawal, CEO of APMT Mumbai, said: “We hope to lead by example. We calculate more than 18,000 drivers can benefit annually from the health centre.
“If replicated elsewhere in India, the programme will have a significant impact on India’s supply chain by promoting an awareness of the profession, and addressing the issue of shortage of tractor-trailer drivers faced by the industry.”
Technical Paper: Chemicals in Containers – Problems and Risks
Rav Gaitonde, COO of APMT Mumbai, concluded: “Travelling long distances on difficult road infrastructure makes these drivers susceptible to professional hazards, while poor working conditions and long hours only worsen the situation.
“We are hopeful of bringing a positive change by helping the drivers maintain a healthy body and sound mind behind the wheel, and encouraging safe and responsible driving.”
Fact File: The port handled 1.91 million TEU in 2015, which represents 42.6% of a cumulative 4.47 million TEU handled by the port in 2015.
