Amid ongoing monsoon rains and a recent spell of heavy downpours in the Kutch-Saurashtra region, the empty container depots (ECDs) at Mundra Port descended into disarray, severely impacting cargo movement and damaging shipments. Transporters and customs brokers report that waterlogging and accumulated muck rendered the ECD zones virtually inaccessible, compounding operational bottlenecks at India’s largest private port.
The Kutch region received 58 per cent of the season’s total rainfall. “Several areas within the ECDs are submerged, leading to both container delays and direct cargo damage. Basic drainage infrastructure is lacking at many depots, and repeated representations to both operators and port authorities yielded no results so far. The ECDs are not even laid with proper roads or paver blocks to make access easy,” said Manoj Kotak, secretary of the Mundra Customs Brokers’ Association (MCBA).
According to freight forwarders, loaded containers awaiting repositioning or customs clearance are stuck in flooded yards. “Transporters are unable to access delivery points, resulting in logistical standstills and additional financial burden for both exporters and importers. Broken roads and bridges already made turnaround times longer and diesel costs higher,” said Mukesh Dave, executive president of the Akhil Gujarat Truck Transporters’ Association (AGTTA).
Mundra Port handled some 200 million metric tonnes (MMT) cargo in 2024-25, according to a statement issued by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ). By a rough distribution over 365 days of the year, roughly 6.02 lakh MT cargo is handled on a daily basis at the port.
Sources in the transport fraternity allege that the present situation also led to disputes over damage claims, as soaked and mud-laden containers await inspection and repair. Empty containers awaiting dispatch for export stuffing are reportedly lying idle in waterlogged yards, adding to exporters’ woes.
The logistics division of the Union ministry of commerce also proposed guidelines to maintain proper infrastructure at ECDs. “ECDs are a critical part of the supply chain. Measures for standardisation of infrastructure and facilities available at the ECDs need to be taken. Transparency, registration, and minimum infrastructure norms must be enforced without delay,” stated the guidelines.
Despite multiple written complaints, depot operators have yet to initiate any significant remediation, brokers said.
