Kakinada set to get logistics university

Kakinada: The State Ports Department has allotted 90 acres of land near the northern side of the fishing harbour for establishing the country’s first ‘logistics university’ at Kakinada. The university will be set up at a cost of Rs 250 crore, out of which the Union Ministry of Shipping will support 50 per cent of its cost (Rs 125 crore).

The AP Logistics Education Promotion Council is being brought into consultation for the purpose.

The Energy and Infrastructure and Investment department has initiated the project and has appointed INCAP as the lead and anchoring organisation along with Department of Ports.

“The university is combining the spectrum of logistics and supply chain management such as Road and Transport, Shipping, Ports, Marine, Aviation etc.

The research and development and skill development and its training would be given to the students in the university’’ said the Director of State Ports, V. Prasanna Venkatesh.

He said that a special purpose vehicle would be formed for the completion of the project. He also said that an advisory body was being formed, headed by the Principal Secretary of Ports.

The proposed university would be established in a phased manner and will accommodate 1,300 to 1,400 students. It would also establish centres of excellence in the areas of international transportation, shipping and port operations, faculty development and excellence and set up incubation centres to encourage entrepreneurship among the students.

Mr Venkatesh said that after the completion of procedural regulations, the institution will become a reality. The University will also have alliance and tie-ups with leading logistic universities and institutions from across the world for research and exchange programmes.