With four new ports being built and a significant rise in shipments from the state’s six existing ports, Andhra Pradesh is making progress in strengthening its maritime logistics capabilities. According to sources from the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board (APMB), the six ports, Gangavaram, Kakinada Deepwater, Krishnapatnam, Ravva, Kakinada Anchorage (major port), and Visakhapatnam, collectively handled 189.21 million tons during the financial year ended March 31, 2024, as opposed to 175.206 million tons the previous year.

The Andhra Pradesh government is funding port-led economic growth in partnership with APMB. The four additional ports are being completed in different phases. Construction of berths, port buildings, roadways, railway lines, port craft berths, and other facilities are among the tasks assigned to a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the ₹2,123-crore Kakinada SEZ Port development project. Dredging and breakwater revetment are also included in this work.

The Ramayapatnam Port Development Corporation Ltd. is developing the ₹3,736 crore Ramayapatnam Port in the Nellore district using the “landlord model,” in which the government owns the infrastructure and leases it to private enterprises. Under the “landlord model,” work is also proceeding on phase I of the ₹5,155-crore Machilipatnam Port development project in Krishna district and the ₹4,362-crore Mulapeta Port (formerly Bhavanapadu Port) development project in Srikakulam district.

Under the Sagarmala project, improvement work at Kakinada Anchorage Port is currently continuing at a cost of ₹91 crore, of which about ₹43 crore comes from Sagarmala and ₹48 crore from APMB.

“In addition to port development, investments are going towards building four fishing harbors under phase I at a cost of ₹1,523 crore and six fishing harbors under phase II at a cost of ₹1,595 crore,” a senior APMB official said.