Visakhapatnam: The first cargo ship will berth at Mulapeta Port in Srikakulam district next September, said minister for fisheries and animal husbandry, Dr. Seediri Appala Raju.
The minister visited the port to inspect the ongoing works on Saturday morning. Later talking to this correspondent, he said that the south breakwater works were completed by 1.5 kilometers of the total length of 2.5 kilometers and north breakwaters was completed by 560 meters out of 580 meters.
After completing two km of south breakwater works, dredging works would begin likely in January next year, the minister said and added that the port-highway connecting road works have also begun.
“After six months we will get the shape of the port and the first cargo ship will probably berth in the Port sometime in September next year,’’ the minister said.
He was accompanied by Srikakulam collector Srikesh Lathkar, officials of contracting firm Viswasamudram Engineers and local leaders.
It may be recalled that Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had laid the foundation for the port this April.
The port, in the first phase, would have three general cargo berths and a bulk cargo terminal. It will initially have a handling capacity of 23.53 million tonnes. Infrastructure will be developed in an area of 500 acres. It will handle general cargo, coal, multipurpose containers and other exports and imports with a capacity of 23.5 million tonnes per annum in the initial stages.
A senior official said Mulapeta Port will play a key role in handling exports and imports from states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and the southern part of Odisha.
Construction of new ports in the state at a cost of Rs.16,000 crore is planned at Ramayapatnam, Machilipatnam, Kakinada Gateway and Mulapeta, thereby creating huge employment opportunities and facilitating exports at low transportation cost, the official said.
