JNPA Container Congestion Eases as Driver Availability Improves
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) announced on Sunday, May 24, 2026, that container congestion caused by an acute shortage of trailer drivers has started easing at the port. The authority stated that the number of Container Freight Station (CFS)-bound containers stranded for over 15 days dropped sharply from nearly 2,500 containers to around 450 after several emergency interventions.
According to the JNPA release, the figure is expected to decline to a negligible level within the next week. The authority attributed the disruption primarily to a seasonal shortage of drivers within the port logistics ecosystem. During this period every year, many drivers return to their native places for agricultural activities, vacations, and social commitments.
However, JNPA noted that this year’s situation worsened because of elections in West Bengal and Eastern Uttar Pradesh, regions that supply a significant share of trailer drivers to the port ecosystem. In addition, disruptions in food services and highway support systems further affected driver availability.
Industry Points to Operational Stress
Meanwhile, Vikash Khatri, Founder of Aviral Consulting, said the LPG supply disruption linked to the West Asia conflict also contributed to the situation. He explained that labour shortages affected several sectors, although the impact varied depending on operational intensity.
He added that many workers who had returned to their hometowns during the summer had not fully returned because LPG cylinders had either become unavailable or significantly more expensive.
At the same time, a transporter operating reefer trailers described the driver shortage as “huge.” He stated that his fleet currently operated at only around 60% capacity, while nearly 55 to 60 reefer trailers remained idle.
According to the transporter, the disruption extended beyond driver availability. He pointed to rising fuel prices, delayed vessel schedules, cash flow pressures, long credit cycles, and operational restrictions on highways as additional stress factors affecting trucking operations. He also noted that truckers struggled with higher costs and limited diesel availability for heavy vehicles at certain locations.
Government and Industry Hold Review Meetings
Earlier this month, several trade associations raised concerns with the government as congestion intensified at JNPA and nearby CFS facilities. Industry representatives warned that severe congestion delayed cargo clearance and increased logistics costs for importers. They also highlighted disruptions in container evacuation, handling, and destuffing operations across the Nhava Sheva region.
As a result, higher ground rent and container detention charges affected importers and disrupted industrial supply chains dependent on imported raw materials.
Subsequently, Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, held a meeting with the All India Liquid Bulk Importers and Exporters Association to review the evolving situation.
The meeting focused on congestion arising from the shortage of CFS trailer drivers, which delayed the evacuation of nearly 25,000 import containers. Sarbananda Sonowal stated that coordinated and proactive measures across ports and logistics systems would support Ease of Doing Business, strengthen supply chain resilience, and build a globally competitive maritime ecosystem aligned with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat.
JNPA Introduces Relief Measures
To support trade stakeholders, authorities waived Inter-Terminal Railway Handling Operation (ITRHO) charges and Change of Mode of Transport charges. Port terminals also extended waivers and discounts on ground rent charges on a case-by-case basis.
Additionally, JNPA advised importers who initially selected CFS delivery to shift to Direct Port Delivery (DPD) wherever possible. This measure allows containers to move directly from port terminals instead of routing through CFS facilities. Customs authorities also agreed to expedite approvals for such conversions.
JNPA currently operates five container terminals NSFT, NSICT, NSIGT, BMCT, and APMT. The port also manages facilities for general cargo, liquid cargo, and coastal container traffic. Furthermore, JNPA oversees a 277-hectare multi-product Special Economic Zone and continues developing the Vadhvan Port project in Maharashtra.
Daily Movement Shows Improvement
According to the JNPA release, the average import discharge per day currently stands at 12,237 TEUs, while Import-CFS pendency stands at 40,809 TEUs. Gate movement recorded 17,425 TEUs, including 7,950 TEUs inbound and 9,475 TEUs outbound movement.
Moreover, JNPA introduced green channel movement for Ameya CFS from NSICT and NSIGT. The Nhava Sheva Area Small Container Operators Welfare Association deployed 70 to 80 trailer trucks to support evacuation activities.
Meanwhile, Kerry Indev CFS evacuated more than 400 TEUs through GTI within a six-hour overnight window. Polaris Logistics Park CFS also evacuated 7,541 TEUs over the last nine days.
To further ease congestion, JNPA facilitated additional train movements between the port and nearby CFS facilities, operating approximately three to four trains daily. The authority also introduced green channel gate facilities for nearly 100 trailer trucks, enabling faster evacuation and increasing trailer trips from two per day to three or four trips daily.
JNPA stated that daily container movement now shows considerable improvement, with around 18,000 TEUs moving through the gates every day. According to the authority, the situation is expected to normalize by the first week of June 2026.
