<p data-path-to-node="0" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-316" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Empty container yard operators and container freight station (CFS) stakeholders at Mundra are facing a potential operational shutdown after </span><b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="158" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ)</b><span class="citation-316 citation-end-316" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> issued a directive restricting shipping lines from using off-dock empty storage depots.</span></p><p data-path-to-node="5" id="p-rc_fd92d069b0287f82-149" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c652880515="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c652880515="" _nghost-ng-c3947949641="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="6" id="p-rc_fd92d069b0287f82-150" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-315" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The new operational policy, scheduled to take effect from </span><b data-path-to-node="6" data-index-in-node="58" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">September 1</b><span class="citation-315 citation-end-315" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">, mandates that shipping lines, freight forwarders, and logistics intermediaries route and store all empty containers inside designated in-port depots within the Mundra Port premises.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c4109436689="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c4109436689="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> <span class="citation-314 citation-end-314" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">While APSEZ maintains that the move is designed to decongest local approach corridors, accelerate truck turnarounds, and centralize safety and security controls, it has triggered strong resistance across the logistics ecosystem.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c4109436689="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c4109436689="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="3" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c652880515="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c652880515="" _nghost-ng-c3947949641="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><h3 data-path-to-node="8" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">Key Operational Highlights &amp; Industry Pushback</h3><ul data-path-to-node="9" style="padding-inline-start: 32px; font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,0,0" id="p-rc_fd92d069b0287f82-151" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Mandatory In-Port Empty Routing:</b> <span class="citation-313 citation-end-313" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Under the upcoming directive, shipping lines will no longer be permitted to nominate external, off-dock yards for empty container evacuation and storage, centralizing empty box operations within designated port facilities.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c4109436689="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c4109436689="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="4" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c652880515="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c652880515="" _nghost-ng-c3947949641="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,1,0" id="p-rc_fd92d069b0287f82-152" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,1,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Association Warnings of Operational Suspension:</b> <span class="citation-312" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The </span><b data-path-to-node="9,1,0" data-index-in-node="52" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Mundra Empty Container Yards &amp; Allied Services Provider Association (MECYASA)</b><span class="citation-312 citation-end-312" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> has warned that its members may suspend operations if the restrictive policy is not rescinded, citing commercial inviability and severe loss of operational autonomy.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c4109436689="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c4109436689="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="5" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c652880515="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c652880515="" _nghost-ng-c3947949641="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,2,0" id="p-rc_fd92d069b0287f82-153" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,2,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">CFSAI and Stakeholder Representations:</b> <span class="citation-311" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The </span><b data-path-to-node="9,2,0" data-index-in-node="43" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Container Freight Stations Association of India (CFSAI)</b><span class="citation-311 citation-end-311" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> and customs broker associations have formally urged APSEZ to reconsider the mandate, emphasizing that excluding carrier-nominated off-dock facilities will dismantle established supply chain workflows, limit carrier flexibility, and inflate operational costs.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c4109436689="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c4109436689="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="6" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c652880515="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c652880515="" _nghost-ng-c3947949641="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,3,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,3,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Risk of EXIM Supply Chain Bottlenecks:</b> Trade bodies warn that any disruption to empty container repositioning and inventory management could immediately constrict equipment availability for outbound export stuffing across Gujarat and North Indian manufacturing belts, potentially leading to congestion and delays across one of India’s largest container hubs.</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,4,0" id="p-rc_fd92d069b0287f82-154" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,4,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Port Rationale and Traffic Management:</b> <span class="citation-310 citation-end-310" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">APSEZ positions the consolidation as an efficiency measure intended to streamline container gate transactions, reduce heavy-vehicle traffic on external approach roads, and mirror integrated port hub operational models.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c4109436689="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c4109436689="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="7" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c652880515="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"></sources-carousel-inline></p></li></ul>