<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:

&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">In a coordinated federal response to mounting supply

chain bottlenecks, the Union Government has rolled out a sweeping series of

operational interventions to accelerate container cargo movements destined for

West Asian markets. The targeted relief measures follow a joint high-level

review led by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Ports,

Shipping, and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to address severe transit

backlogs and container congestion spilling across India's premier export gateways.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:

&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">The inter-ministerial directives introduce aggressive

logistical workarounds designed to lower mounting transaction costs, improve

terminal fluidness, and safeguard the "Ease of Doing Business"

framework for domestic exporters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:

&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">According to a joint operational statement issued by

federal ministries and the All India Liquid Bulk Importers and Exporters

Association, the strategic rerouting of Gulf-bound cargo has placed intense

logistical pressure on alternative maritime hubs. In particular, the Jawaharlal

Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) has seen a massive influx of diverted container

streams. To prevent terminal paralysis amid a localized trailer driver

shortage, authorities have ordered immediate inter-terminal rail interventions,

forcing the evacuation of stranded export boxes directly to satellite Container

Freight Stations (CFSs) using private railway sidings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:

&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">To aggressively compress freight dwell times and

eliminate shoreside bottlenecks, the shipping ministry has mandated the

immediate implementation of several systemic waivers and simplified customs

processing steps:<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<ul style="margin-top:0cm" type="disc">

<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">Tariff

Waivers:</span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;

font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"> Major port authorities have

completely suspended Inter-Terminal Railway Handling Operation (ITRHO)

fees alongside Change of Mode of Transport charges, directly absorbing

friction costs for multimodal operators.<o:p></o:p></span></li>

<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">Ground

Rent Relief:</span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;

font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"> Marine terminals are deploying deep

case-by-case discounts and extensive grace periods on accumulated ground

rent, giving trade houses crucial financial breathing room.<o:p></o:p></span></li>

<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">Accelerated

Scanning &amp; Empty Yards:</span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;

line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"> Terminals have

introduced simultaneous twin-container scanning arrays to double gate

velocity, while establishing dedicated "green channels"

exclusively for empty trailer frames to maximize vehicle turnaround.<o:p></o:p></span></li>

</ul>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:

&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">Beyond immediate shoreside adjustments, the central

administration has directed CFS operators and regional transport syndicates to

aggressively expand driver availability by collaborating directly with

commercial motor driving schools. By coupling automated documentation tracking

with synchronized rail-slot allocation, federal planners aim to provide

immediate risk mitigation for time-sensitive engineering, petroleum,

agricultural, and chemical consignments bound for the Gulf. The regulatory desk

emphasized that maintaining a predictable, cost-resilient maritime corridor

remains an absolute economic priority to protect India's cross-border trade

momentum against prolonged regional geopolitical disruptions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>