Vijayawada: Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy would formally launch the works of Machilipatnam Port that would be erected by the state government at a cost of ₹ 5,156 crore, at Machilipatnam, on Monday.
The port would facilitate export of fertilizers, coal, cooking oil, containers, agricultural products, cement, cement clinker, granite and iron ore coming from the Guntur, Krishna, NTR, East and West Godavari districts of AP as also Khammam, Karimnagar, Adilabad, Nalgonda and Warangal districts of Telangana.
Government sources said this would mark a new dawn in the history of Andhra Pradesh. The Jagan-led government began construction of four new ports in the last four years of its reign, while only six ports had been built in the state ever since Independence.
The construction of Ramayapatnam port is at a brisk phase. The works of Mulapet Port have begun and the works of Kakinada SEZ Port is progressing. The long-cherished dream of the Bandar people would now be fulfilled.
The land acquisition, tender process, project’s clearances from various agencies, efforts at resolving legal disputes were successfully competed as also the financial closure process.
The Bandar Port would have an annual capacity of 35.12 million tonnes. Four berths would be set up to handle imports and exports. It would handle general cargo, coal and multipurpose containers.
The port works would be completed between 24-30 months. It provides direct and indirect employment to 25,000 people. The port would grow to 10 berths with a handling capacity of 115 million tonnes per annum, it is expected.
The construction of new ports at Ramayapatnam, Machilipatnam, Mulapet and Kakinada SEZ, at a cost of ₹16,000 crore, is generating direct and indirect employment to 75,000 people, an official statement said.
Explaining about the background of Machilipatnam Port, it noted that Machilipatnam was the prime business centre on the eastern coast for the British, Dutch and Portuguese. Bandar flourished as a major port those days.
In the first year of the Jagan-led government, an SPV named Machilipatnam Port Development Corporation Ltd was formed on February, 4, 2020. It won administrative permissions and a fund of ₹5,156 crore was earmarked for the construction of the port.
Environmental clearances were obtained on February, 28, 2023, clearances from Pollution Control Board on April 13, 2023, and land acquisition of 1,794.09 acres was completed in March, 2023.
The total cost of Bandar port project including land acquisition and ancillary port works is ₹ 5,156 crore. The port capacity is 35.12 million tonnes per annum. The number of berths is four while the land acquisition expenditure was ₹1,794.09 crore.
A four-lane highway for a stretch of 6.5km connecting NH-216, construction of a 7.5km rail line from Pedana Railway Station to the port, supply of 0.5 million litres of water per day from the Bandar canal through an 11-km pipeline and supply of 15 mega volt amp power from the 220 KV substation of Pedana are the main features of the Bandar port.
Machilipatnam MLA Perni Venkataramaiah said Port-linked logistics will help farmers to export their agricultural produce. Steps are being initiated towards industrialization of the coastal areas and areas surrounding the port.
Construction of 10 fishing harbours and six fish landing centres with world class infrastructure to benefit fishermen is envisaged.
Steps towards construction of a port or a fishing harbour for every 50km along the coastline in the state are being taken. AP has the potential of generating a $20 billion Blue Economy by year 2035 through seacoast development, he said.
