CMA CGM’s Nhava Sheva terminal set to ease landside congestion with new road link

Landside congestion at Nhava Sheva Port is expected to ease after the Centre cleared a major road connectivity project aimed at improving cargo evacuation from India’s busiest container gateway. The approval is being seen as a significant relief for shippers, transporters and supply chain operators who have been grappling with mounting truck delays at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA).

The project is a new 29-kilometre access corridor linking the port complex directly to the nearest state highway junction. Planned under a build–operate–transfer (BOT) framework, the greenfield road is estimated to involve an investment of about US$525 million.

In an official statement, the government said strengthening road connectivity to ports remains a priority under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan. It noted that rising container traffic at JNPA, coupled with the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, has made it imperative to expand and upgrade highway links in the region.

Currently, trucks moving in and out of Nhava Sheva can take up to three hours to reach the highway network because of severe congestion on existing routes. Authorities warned that delays would intensify further as port volumes continue to grow.

The proposed six-lane corridor is designed to streamline freight movement, improve safety, and significantly enhance logistics efficiency between JNPA and the airport. The government said the project would also catalyse economic development across areas around Mumbai and Pune by opening new growth corridors.

Nhava Sheva hosts six container terminals and handles a substantial share of India’s containerised trade. In recent weeks, worsening truck turnaround times have triggered complaints from transporters as well as exporters and importers.

Traffic pressures are being amplified by strong volume growth. During April 2024–February 2025, container throughput at JNPA rose 13.6% year on year to 6.6 million TEUs, according to data accessed by Container News. With momentum continuing, total volumes in FY2024-25 are expected to cross 7 million TEUs, the highest ever for the port.

Further strain is likely in the near term, with PSA Mumbai’s Phase 2 expansion at Bharat Mumbai Container Terminals (BMCT) set to add 2.4 million TEUs of capacity from next month. Once operational, the expansion will significantly lift cargo flows, making improved landside connectivity critical for sustaining port efficiency.