Some 15,000 containers filled with export and import cargo approximately worth US$349.2 million are stuck at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Mumbai as protesters from the Gujjar community have blocked rail lines in Jaipur and adjoining areas.
If the agitation does not end soon, port congestion is expected to worsen and exporters may lose orders worth millions.
Attempts were being made to ensure that cargo moves through alternate train routes bypassing troubled areas, but the longer routes were leading to delays.
The import cargo heading for north India can't be released as there aren't enough trains to take it to its destination because of protesters blocking rail lines. Similarly, with export cargo reaching the port late through diverted routes and several ships leaving without cargo, there are thousands of containers languishing at the port waiting for the next ship.
The early monsoon has made matters worse as water-logging at the port and roads leading to the port is adding to the chaos.
The congestion is so bad that export cargo reaching in time to catch the ships can't make it to the dock because the way is blocked with other containers.
The congestion could lead to cancellation of summer sale orders from the US and EU markets, which would result in huge losses for exporters.
The JNPT port authority has asked the shipping ministry for permission to open another terminal to handle the increased cargo. JNPT, which handles about 60 percent of India's container exports and imports, has three terminals at present.
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Source: cargonewsasia.com
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