Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) has entered into a licence agreement with UAE-based logistics firm RSA Global to develop an empty container yard near Nhava Sheva. The 62-acre facility will be located three km from the port terminals and will be operated on a 30-year lease. JNPA said the yard is intended to support faster container turnaround, improved asset utilisation and greater operational reliability for the maritime logistics sector.

The development will provide an integrated suite of services to manage the lifecycle of empty containers, enabling shipping lines and equipment operators to improve utilisation and coordination. The facility will support links across ports, terminals, Container Freight Stations (CFSs), Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Free Trade Warehousing Zones (FTWZs) and road transport operators, the statement added. JNPA indicated the ECY will streamline movements and reduce idle time for container equipment.

Construction will take place in phases. Phase I, comprising approximately 20 acres, is expected to be operational within 15-20 days and will enable storage and core yard operations. Phase II will add a further 20 acres by January 2027 and Phase III will develop the remaining 21.7 acres by May 2027 to complete the 62-acre site.

The project will introduce technologies in stages, including gate automation, artificial intelligence-enabled CCTV surveillance, a Yard Management System (YMS) and an intelligent bay allocation system, along with driver utility facilities. The authority will deploy a system called Container Eye to automate maintenance and repair processes and to improve visibility and control. The yard will be designed to handle multiple equipment types including dry containers, reefer containers, ISO tanks, out-of-gauge project cargo and collapsible containers.

JNPA handled 7.94 mn twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in calendar year 2025, the highest throughput in its history, reflecting a 12.64 per cent year-on-year increase amid stable demand and better alignment across terminals, shipping lines and service providers. Overall cargo throughput during 2025 reached 99.17 mn metric tonnes (t), up 9.86 per cent year-on-year. The authority said ECY is expected to further strengthen operational efficiency and asset rotation along the trade corridor.