The Hindu Business Line : Congestion builds up at JNPT box terminals

With congestion continuing to build up at the three container terminals at JNPT, port officials are working overtime to ease the situation before the monsoon hits the Maharashtra coast in June.

The port is well aware of the fact that if the unmoved containers are not evacuated, especially from the Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (NSICT), any disruption in cargo handling due to rains during monsoon would result in the "whole system collapsing" and affecting cargo movement at all the three terminals.

Ministry suggestion

Taking a serious note of the problem, the Ministry of Commerce has suggested that the port, in concert with the Railways and Concor, should come out with a contingency plan and a disaster management plan, keeping in view the approaching monsoon, to combat the congestion problem, informed sources said.

The Ministry feels that the contingency plan should be implemented from June 1. It has also directed Concor to formulate an action plan for movement of boxes to Mumbai and Pipavav ports.

Reasons cited

Port authorities have pointed out that one of the reasons for the increasing pendency this month was the strict implementation of the Supreme Court order, pertaining to Motor Vehicle Act 1988. Due to weight restrictions in the aftermath of the order, the number of containers required to move the same cargo has increased.

"However, JNPT is in dialogue with the Maharashtra Government and Regional Transport Office for getting permission for carrying extra load on the newly procured high-capacity tractor-trailers inside the terminal area," a port official said.

Another reason for the congestion has been traced to the starting of operations at the privately operated third terminal. Port users fear that once the third terminal launches full-fledged operations, the infrastructure for cargo evacuation has to be strengthened.

Concor, for its part, has also initiated measures to help bring down the congestion levels at the port. "Concor is providing empty rakes, although it is not economical for the company. About 3,000 empty wagons were supplied in May, while efforts are on to reach an average of 14 rakes per day," port sources said. Furthermore, after the completion of doubling work for rail lines, there will be some spare capacity available with Concor for placement and removal of rakes.

In addition to these, permission has been obtained from Customs authorities for movement of cargo by barges to Mumbai and Pipavav, which could significantly de-congest the container terminals.

NSICT, which is the worst-hit of the three terminals, has suggested that two additional empty rakes per day should be provided to the terminal for faster evacuation of boxes. The terminal authorities feel that 700 TEUs should be moved to Pipavav to stem the congestion build-up.

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