Dedicated Freight Corridor may help JN Port reclaim lost cargo volumes

DFC Connectivity to Sharpen Competition Between JN Port and Mundra Port.

With Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority set to achieve full connectivity with the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) in March, competition between India’s two largest container ports—JN Port and Mundra Port—is expected to intensify. Experts believe DFC access could allow JN Port, located near Mumbai, to regain cargo that had shifted to Gujarat ports such as Mundra and Pipavav due to earlier DFC advantages. According to Container Corporation of India Ltd (CONCOR), assured transit times and the ability to run double-stacked container trains could significantly improve JN Port’s rail efficiency and raise its rail share beyond the current 16–17%. CONCOR CMD Sanjay Swarup noted that while Mundra and Pipavav are linked to the DFC via feeder routes, JN Port will enjoy direct DFC access, allowing faster, dedicated container movement. This direct connectivity could help importers receive cargo sooner, potentially shifting volumes back to JN Port and reshaping cargo dynamics along India’s western coast.