Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, virtually flagged-off the dwarf container train service from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) today. With this, the first consignment of laden dwarf containers from dwarf container depot (DCD) at the port was moved by train to ICD Kanpur.

The port is set to gain steadily from the implementation the dwarf container train services from JNPT, as the rail movement of EXIM cargo through double stacked dwarf containers would offer competitive cost advantage to the EXIM community, resulting in an increase in port cargo traffic via rail route. The dwarf containers are lesser in height by 660 mm than normal ISO containers, giving them a logistical edge. The low height of dwarf container loaded on trailers can pass through rural, semi urban and urban roads, through limited height subways and level crossing in electrified sections.

Furthermore, the dwarf containers provide a 67 per cent increase in volume when double-stacked and can carry a weight of 71 tons, against 40 tons by an ISO container. In addition, Indian Railways has offered 17 per cent discount on haulage cost compared to double stack ISO container trains, resulting in an overall 33 per cent discount to shippers making Indian Railways competitive. Thus, the rail movement of cargo through dwarf containers has the potential to lower the EXIM logistics costs, making Indian exports globally competitive.

Speaking at the inaugural event, the Minister said, the commencement of dwarf container train services from JNPT is a pivotal step towards streamlining the rail movement of EXIM cargo via double-stacked dwarf containers. He said, this will give the EXIM community a competitive cost advantage by lowering hinterland logistical costs, while simultaneously enhancing rail-cargo traffic at JNPT. Mr Sonowal added that dwarf containers are port-friendly and can be manufactured in India at a cost-efficient price point, thereby opening-up opportunities for Make in India.

In line with this, a location within the JNPT container terminal was identified for the establishment of Dwarf Container Depot, where cargo transfer from ISO containers to dwarf containers would be carried out thereby making availability of empty ISO containers at the port itself for export repositioning. Currently, the trade is facing shortage of ISO containers for exports and this initiative can be a game changer as the turnaround time of containers will come down from month to few days as the import laden ISO containers need not go all the way to the hinterland.