VISHAKHAPATNAM: Union minister for ports, shipping and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated projects worth Rs 333.56 crore in the port city on Monday.
The Vizag International Cruise Terminal is among the three projects that have been launched. It is developed by the Visakhapatnam Port with an investment of Rs 96.05 crore, while 50 per cent of the investment was funded by the tourism ministry.
This VICT can handle cruise ships that have up to 2,000 passengers on board. Sonowal said, “This terminal would position Visakhapatnam as a prominent cruise tourism destination. The diverse tourist attractions within Visakhapatnam and the surrounding AP region, including beaches, temples, historical sites, cultural attractions and natural beauty make it an ideal location for cruise ships to dock and tourists to explore the city.”
A covered storage shed at R-11 area was also inaugurated. Its size is 300x40x17 metres. This shed was built at a cost of Rs 33.80 crore. This shed can store up to 84,000 tonnes of bulk and bagged cargo and it has mist arrangement for dust suppression. This shed can reduce pollution, officials said.
The revamp of the Ocean Research Institute (ORI), ORI-I and ORI-II has been taken up with an investment of Rs 167.66 crore. The funds would be spent on 14.5m draft vessels and 85,000 deadweight tonnage vessels. Out of these, the berth OR-1 was inaugurated. Its berth’s length is 243m; and its capacity is 3.81mmt.
The minister promised that the ORI, ORI-I and ORI-II modernisation project could be completed by October next year.
The Visakha port authority developed the world-class truck parking terminal on 20 acres with an investment of '36.05 crore. This would facilitate parking space for cargo-bound vehicles entering the port and provide hassle- free movement of trucks. This truck parking terminal can accommodate 666 vehicles. Its dormitory strength is 100 beds.
The truck-parking terminal has a fuel station, a weigh bridge of 100T capacity, a workshop and servicing station spread over an area of 432 sq-mt and a toilet block with 12 bathrooms.
Union minister of state for shipping, Sripad Yasso Naik, Vizag city mayor Hari Kumari and port officials were present at the events.
