India Announces Urgent Measures To Ease Gulf-Bound Container Bottlenecks At Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority

On May 22, 2026, the Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal reviewed the situation with exporters and importers. Gulf-bound containers had been rerouted to JNPA, creating additional pressure on port infrastructure. The government has now rolled out coordinated interventions to sustain Ease of Doing Business and ensure smooth trade operations.

Measures Implemented

• Rail evacuation of containers to nearby Container Freight Stations (CFSs) equipped with railway sidings.
• Simultaneous scanning of double containers to reduce processing time.
• Waiver of Intern-Terminal Railway Handling Operation (ITRHO) charges and Change of Mode of Transport charges.
• Ground rent waivers and discounts offered by port terminals on a case-by-case basis.
• Dedicated green channels for empty trailers to facilitate faster turnaround.
• Pooling of nearly 100 trailers by CFS operators to evacuate long-pending containers.
• Driver availability initiatives, including engagement with motor driving schools to expand the pool of trained trailer drivers.

Strategic Importance

• Gulf nations are key trade partners for India, especially in petroleum, chemicals, textiles, and food exports.
• The measures will reduce congestion, cut costs, and improve delivery timelines for exporters.
• Industry stakeholders welcomed the government’s “Whole of Government” response, which strengthens supply chain resilience amid global challenges.
• Long-term plans include expanding rail cargo evacuation capacity and training more drivers to prevent future bottlenecks.

Trade Facilitation Highlights

•⁠  ⁠Rail evacuation of stranded containers to nearby CFSs

•⁠  ⁠Waivers on ITRHO and transport charges to ease costs

•⁠  ⁠Ground rent discounts extended by port terminals

•⁠  ⁠Dedicated green channels for empty trailers at JNPA

•⁠  ⁠Pooling of 100 trailers to clear congested yards

•⁠  ⁠Driver training initiatives to expand trailer operator availability

•⁠  ⁠Coordinated “Whole of Government” response to sustain Ease of Doing Business

Sources: The Economic Times, The Hindu BusinessLine, The Week, WebIndia123