Exporters Sound Alarm Over Severe Congestion at Mumbai's JNPT Port
Exporters Raise Alarm Over Severe JNPT Port Congestion in Mumbai

Exporters Sound Alarm Over Severe Congestion at Mumbai's JNPT Port

Exporters from Nashik have raised serious concerns about escalating congestion at Mumbai's Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT), highlighting severe traffic issues at key terminals and entry points. The delays are primarily attributed to ongoing road construction and the partial operation of several port gates, creating a logistical nightmare for the export community.

Critical Bottlenecks at Parking Plaza and Terminals

According to exporters, trucks are experiencing extensive delays at the Parking Plaza, where all containers must undergo mandatory documentation checks. The situation is particularly dire for reefer containers carrying perishable goods, which are taking over 24 hours to clear the plaza. An additional 12 to 24 hours is required for these containers to reach terminal gates at facilities such as GTI (Gateway Terminal India) and BMCT (Bharat Mumbai Container Terminal).

An exporter emphasized, "These extended delays exceed the 48-hour deadline for perishable cargo, leading to frequent shut-outs, significant financial losses, and missed shipment schedules." Many of the stranded containers are loaded with sensitive commodities like onions and grapes, increasing the risk of spoilage and quality degradation.

HPEA Delegation Seeks Urgent Intervention

Alarmed by the worsening congestion, a delegation from the Horticulture Produce Exporters Association (HPEA) met with Customs Commissioner Sanjay Pai on Thursday to seek urgent intervention. The delegation submitted a detailed memorandum outlining the operational bottlenecks and appealed for immediate corrective measures to alleviate the crisis.

Commissioner Pai assured the group that the issue would be addressed on a priority basis, with steps initiated to ease traffic flow and expedite container movement across all port gates. HPEA Vice-President Vikas Singh stated, "The recurring congestion has become a serious challenge. Smooth operations at JNPT, one of India's key export gateways, are vital to sustaining the country's export momentum."

Exporters Propose Solutions to Mitigate Delays

To prevent further disruptions, exporters have put forward several recommendations:

  • Opening all available port gates to increase throughput capacity.
  • Enhancing coordination during ongoing road construction projects.
  • Establishing a dedicated fast-track lane for reefer cargo to ensure timely clearance.

These measures aim to streamline operations and reduce the financial and logistical burdens faced by exporters, particularly those dealing with time-sensitive perishable goods. The ongoing situation underscores the need for improved infrastructure and coordination at one of India's busiest ports to support the nation's export growth.