Union Minister lays foundation for ₹230 crore Visakhapatnam Port projects

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday laid the foundation stone for four major projects of the Visakhapatnam Port Authority, involving an investment of ₹230 crore, at Sagaramala Conventions in Saligrampuram here.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister expressed confidence that Visakhapatnam Port would cross 100 million metric tonnes of cargo throughput in the coming years. He said the port was among the best-performing ports in the country and figured in the list of the top 100 ports globally.

Visakhapatnam Port Authority Chairman M. Angamuthu said the four projects were being taken up to strengthen safety systems, infrastructure, administrative capacity and residential facilities at the port.

The projects include upgradation of firefighting facilities at the LPG berth at a cost of ₹52.23 crore to meet Oil Industry Safety Directorate norms, modernisation of the ORS Dry Dock at an estimated cost of ₹35.87 crore to support ship repair and enhance revenue generation, construction of a G plus 9 Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Administrative Bhavan with green building standards at a cost of ₹97.70 crore, and construction of residential apartments at Harbour Park costing ₹44.20 crore to facilitate land monetisation and improve living amenities.

Visakhapatnam South MLA Vamsikrishna Srinivas Yadav said rapid industrialisation in and around the city was acting as a major driver of growth and development. Visakhapatnam North MLA Vishnukumar Raju appreciated the port’s social service initiatives carried out through CSR activities, which were benefiting the needy sections.

Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat said the port had always played a vital role in the development of the city and expressed hope that the four new projects would be completed within the stipulated timelines for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Later, Mr. Sonowal presented course completion certificates and placement orders to students of the Centre of Excellence in Maritime and Shipbuilding, who were trained under the sponsorship of the Visakhapatnam Port Authority.