**Executive Summary**
The Government of India has initiated a “Whole of Government” response to address severe port congestion at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) caused by a shortage of trailer drivers. Following a high-level review on May 22, 2026, immediate measures including rail evacuation, fee waivers, and trailer pooling were implemented to clear a backlog of 25,000 containers. The initiative aims to sustain the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and strengthen long-term supply chain resilience through infrastructure and workforce improvements.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Immediate Operational Interventions**
* **Rail Evacuation:** Containers are being moved via rail to nearby Container Freight Stations (CFSs) equipped with railway sidings to bypass road transport bottlenecks.
* **Processing Efficiency:** Simultaneous scanning of double containers has been introduced to significantly reduce processing time.
* **Fee Waivers:** To provide financial relief, the government has waived Inter-Terminal Railway Handling Operation (ITRHO) charges and Change of Mode of Transport charges.
* **Rent Discounts:** Port terminals are offering case-to-case waivers and discounts on ground rent charges.
**Logistics and Yard Management**
* **Trailer Pooling:** Leading CFS operators pooled approximately 100 trailers to specifically target and evacuate long-pending containers (those lying at terminals for over 14 days).
* **Green Channels:** Dedicated green channels were established for empty trailers to ensure faster turnaround times across terminals.
* **Direct Access:** Efforts are underway to allow importers direct access to port terminal yards to pick up containers and match export trailers with import loads.
**Long-term Resilience and Sustainability**
* **Workforce Development:** Engagement with motor driving training schools is planned to build a larger pool of trained trailer drivers.
* **Technology and Infrastructure:** A Truck Appointment System is being introduced to reduce gate congestion, and terminals are encouraged to deploy additional handling equipment.
* **Sustainability:** The port authority plans a gradual transition to electric vehicles to improve operational sustainability and driver comfort.
**Impact Analysis**
**EXIM Community (Importers and Exporters)**
**Impact**
They benefit from reduced delays in cargo movement and lower operational costs due to the waiver of handling charges and ground rent discounts.
**Action Required**
Coordinate with port terminals for case-to-case rent waivers and prepare for direct container pickup from terminal yards as access is granted.
**CFS Operators and Transporters**
**Impact**
These stakeholders are required to manage resources more collaboratively through trailer pooling while facing pressure to address the driver shortage.
**Action Required**
Intensify efforts to increase driver availability, participate in trailer pooling initiatives, and engage with driving schools to expand the workforce.
**JNPA and Port Terminals**
**Impact**
The port authority must manage a transition toward more automated and scheduled systems to handle rising cargo volumes.
**Action Required**
Implement the Truck Appointment System, establish green channels for trailers, and invest in additional handling equipment and electric vehicle infrastructure.
Key Entities Referenced
JNPA (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority): The primary port entity implementing operational interventions to resolve container congestion and trailer driver shortages.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW): The lead ministry coordinating the 'Whole of Government' response and long-term maritime logistics strategies.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry: Collaborating ministry focused on addressing bottlenecks affecting the EXIM community and Ease of Doing Business.
Inter-Terminal Railway Handling Operation (ITRHO): A specific operational mechanism whose charges were waived to facilitate the evacuation of cargo via rail.
All India Liquid Bulk Importers and Exporters Association: The primary industry stakeholder group representing trade interests during high-level review meetings.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Govt Moves to Ease Port Congestion at JNPA
owing to trailer driver shortage issues at CFS
Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Sarbananda Sonowal review
port congestion issues with EXIM stakeholders by way of
Rail evacuation, waiver of handling charges, green channels
and trailer pooling among measures rolled out to sustain
Ease of Doing Business (EODB)
Posted On: 22 MAY 2026 8:21PM by PIB Delhi
In a decisive move to sustain Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and ensure uninterrupted trade operations
amid emerging supply chain interruptions owing to trailer driver shortage issues at CFS, the Government
of India has initiated a coordinated “Whole of Government” response to address concerns raised by the
EXIM community.
Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of Ports, Shipping &
Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal held a high-level meeting with representatives of the All India Liquid
Bulk Importers and Exporters Association to review the evolving situation and discuss immediate and
long-term measures to ease operational bottlenecks affecting cargo movement.
The meeting focused on container congestion arising out of the CFS trailer driver shortage which led to
delays in evacuation of 25000 containers of import cargo.
Responding swiftly to the situation, JNPA implemented a series of operational interventions to decongest
terminals and expedite cargo evacuation. Containers were evacuated through rail movement even to
nearby Container Freight Stations (CFSs) equipped with railway sidings, while simultaneous scanning of
double containers was introduced to reduce processing time.
“Held a highly productive meeting with my colleague Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal ji to address the
challenges emerging from the shortage of trailer driver at CFS and to ensure seamless trade facilitation for
the trading community. Guided by a Whole of Government approach, we are taking coordinated and
proactive measures across ports and logistics systems to sustain Ease of Doing Business, strengthen
supply chain resilience and build a globally competitive maritime ecosystem in line with the vision of
Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat,” said Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping
& Waterways (MoPSW).
To provide relief to trade stakeholders, Intern-Terminal Railway Handling Operation (ITRHO) charges
and Change of Mode of Transport charges were waived. Port terminals also extended waivers and
discounts on ground rent charges on a case-to-case basis.Dedicated green channels for empty trailers were established across terminals to facilitate faster
turnaround. In another major initiative, leading CFS operators pooled nearly 100 trailers to lift entire
container stacks, enabling the evacuation of long-pending and buried containers from congested yards.
These coordinated efforts have significantly improved yard management, reducing the number of
containers lying at terminals for more than 14 days. Further, efforts are on to allow importers direct access
to port terminal yards to pick up the containers and matching export trailers with import containers from
the port.
“In line with the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the Government is
committed to building a resilient, efficient and future-ready trade and logistics ecosystem. We are resolved
to take swift, coordinated measures to protect the interests of the EXIM community. Guided by the
‘Whole of Government’ approach envisioned by PM Modi ji, we are working to strengthen supply chains,
keep our trade interests globally competitive and sustain EODB of our economy,” added Sarbananda
Sonowal.
As part of a long-term resilience strategy, JNPA has also outlined a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen
logistics preparedness and future cargo handling capabilities. The measures include intensified efforts by
CFS operators and transporters to increase driver availability, enhanced cargo evacuation through
railways, and engagement with motor driving training schools to build a larger pool of trained trailer
drivers. The port authority is also planning a gradual transition to electric vehicles to improve operational
sustainability and driver comfort. In addition, a Truck Appointment System is being introduced to reduce
congestion at terminal gates, while terminals are being encouraged to deploy additional handling
equipment to support rising cargo volumes.***
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