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N.K. Kurup

Mumbai , Aug 1

JN Port - NSICT terminals are facing a threat of another major congestion with rains and floods disrupting rail links between the port and inland container depots (ICDs).

Container Corporation of India, which runs the rail service between the port and ICDs, could not operate any train since last Tuesday.

As a result, more than 10,000 containers bound for ICDs have been piled up at the JN Port and NSICT terminals — the largest container hub in the country, a JN port official said.

If the current situation continues, the port will have to take a decision to divert ships to other ports, the official said.

ICD cargo accounts for nearly 40 per cent of the total throughput at these terminals.

"It will take at least a fortnight to clear the backlog," said an official with NSICT. In normal times, Concor moves out about 1,000 containers a day.

If the rail service is not restored in the next couple of days, which is unlikely, the number of ICD containers at the yard could mount to an unmanageable level, as unloading of containers from the ships continue unaffected.

"We have convened a meeting of the Container Coordination Committee (which has port users' representatives) tomorrow and hope to work out a strategy to deal with the situation," Mr R.B. Budhiraja, JNPT Chairman, said.

Incessant rains from last Tuesday damaged rail tracks at several places, particularly between Panvel and Diva, forcing the railways to suspend services.

One train has been held up there for the last few days. Some trains carrying ICD containers are also halted on the way at different places outside the State, said a Concor official.

Heavy rains have also made movements of containers by road difficult.

Port authorities and Concor are also exploring various options to clear the containers at the earliest.

One of the options is to take the containers to Mumbai port by barges or by road to the ICD at Mulund and from there the boxes can be moved by main line, the official said.

Mumbai port: Loading and unloading operations of break-bulk cargo, which accounts for one-third of the port's total traffic, has been seriously affected.

However, container operations continued but at a slow pace, said Mr A.K. Bal, Deputy Chairman, Mumbai port.

He said there has been no delay in handling liquid cargo, including petroleum products.

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