Works for Bhavanapadu, Bandar ports to be started in December

KAKINADA: Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board chairman Kayala Venkata Reddy said on Thursday that the Bhavanapadu and Bandar port works would be launched in December. He said the Ramayapatnam port works are being done on a war-footing. The anchorage port would be developed at a cost of Rs 100 crore under the Sagarmala Scheme.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is giving priority to development of ports in the state, he said.

The chairman, along with Kakinada MP Vanga Gita and MLA Dwarampudi Chandrasekhara Reddy inaugurated the dredging works in the anchorage port.

Venkata Reddy said the previous governments treated the anchorage port as a source of income, but they did not take care of its development. Steps were now being taken to compete the anchorage port along with other ports in the country, he said.

The chairman said many youths would be provided jobs through the port’s development. For the benefit of fishermen, nine shipping harbours in the state are being developed, out of which five harbours have been completed and about to be inaugurated.

Gita said efforts would be made to provide workers safety, insurance, electricity etc.  Some 75 per cent of the construction works for the ESI hospital at Kakinada have been completed and the hospital would be ready by May 31, 2023, she said.

Dwarampudi Chandrasekhara Reddy said the dredging for the anchorage port, construction of new jetties etc are being taken up in the anchorage port and chief minister Jagan Reddy aimed at increasing the exports and imports through the ports.

He said global recognition to the anchorage port would come soon. Cocanada chamber of commerce chairman VV Raghavulu, Kakinada urban development authority chairperson Chandrakala Deepthi, former Kakinada Mayor Siva Prasanna, rice millers association president  Dwarampudi Veerabhadra Reddy and others were present.