Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday said that nearly 90 per cent of backlog cargo at major ports has been cleared, following swift intervention and continuous monitoring by the government amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Chairing a high-level review meeting with senior officials and port authorities, Sonowal said coordinated and proactive measures helped stabilise operations quickly, ensuring minimal impact on India’s trade.He noted that the evolving situation in West Asia had initially led to delays and congestion at ports, but the government’s timely response enabled efficient clearance of cargo.
“We acted swiftly and in a coordinated manner to address emerging challenges. Continuous monitoring and timely intervention have helped us regularise port operations and clear the backlog efficiently, ensuring that India’s trade remains resilient,” the minister said.
Reviewing port-wise operations, Sonowal expressed satisfaction over the significant improvement and commended port authorities and workers for maintaining seamless functioning during a critical period marked by global uncertainty.
He emphasised that the government’s priority extends beyond operational continuity to safeguarding the interests of exporters, importers, and logistics stakeholders.The minister directed all port authorities to ensure that financial relief measures announced by the ministry, including waivers on ground rent and concessions on reefer charges, are passed on to stakeholders without delays or procedural hurdles.
He also instructed the Directorate General of Shipping to ensure complete transparency in shipping-related charges, cautioning against any attempt to exploit the situation.“This crisis must not become an opportunity for profiteering. All charges must be clearly documented and monitored to protect trade interests,” Sonowal said, underlining the need for accountability across the sector.
The review also focused on strengthening grievance redressal mechanisms at ports, with directions issued to ensure faster resolution of stakeholder concerns during such disruptions.Officials informed that major ports such as Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, Deendayal Port Authority, New Mangalore Port Authority, and Mumbai Port Authority have largely cleared stranded cargo.