Major Indian Ports Expand Empty Container Yard Capacity.

JN Port, Chennai and Mundra move to strengthen organised container handling and logistics infrastructure.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JN Port), Chennai Port and Mundra Port are developing empty container depots (ECDs) to create organised alternatives to the unregulated container yards that have expanded in recent years. The move is aimed at improving the management, storage and movement of empty containers while supporting more efficient port-linked logistics. The proposed facilities are expected to provide shipping lines and logistics operators with professionally managed spaces for handling containers between cargo movements. By developing their own depots, major ports can also strengthen operational coordination and improve visibility across the container supply chain. The expansion comes as India’s containerised trade continues to grow, increasing the need for reliable supporting infrastructure beyond the main cargo terminals. Organised empty container yards could help reduce inefficiencies associated with fragmented storage and handling arrangements. The initiatives by JN Port, Chennai Port and Mundra Port reflect a broader push toward more structured, efficient and integrated port infrastructure to support India’s expanding maritime logistics ecosystem.