The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) has announced a relief measure for importers affected by the shortage of trailer drivers during April and May 2026, which led to delays in evacuating import containers from port terminals.
In a trade notice issued on June 8, JNPA stated that eligible importers will receive a 50% reimbursement of ground rent charges incurred from the ninth day after container landing onwards. The move aims to ease the financial burden caused by extended container dwell times and congestion at port terminals.
According to the notice, the waiver applies to import-laden containers destined for CFS or Direct Port Delivery (DPD) by road, which were discharged from vessels on or after May 1, 2026, and are removed from the port before midnight on June 20, 2026.
Under the scheme, importers will be reimbursed 50% of the ground rent paid from the ninth day of landing until the container’s removal, subject to verification by JNPA. Containers landed after June 12, 2026 (24:00 hrs) will not be eligible for the benefit.
To claim the reimbursement, importers must submit ground rent payment invoices, copies of delivery orders (DOs), and bank account details to JNPA’s Finance Department. The reimbursement will be credited directly to the importer after eligibility verification.
JNPA said the measure has been introduced in recognition of the hardships faced by importers due to operational disruptions and inventory build-up at port terminals. The authority has urged all eligible stakeholders to clear pending containers before the June 20 deadline to avail the relief.
The latest announcement follows a series of trade facilitation measures undertaken by JNPA in recent months to support the EXIM community and improve cargo evacuation efficiency.
