Vijayawada: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday launched the Machilipatnam port works and promised to return and inaugurate operations when the work is completed.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Naidu said that the dream of the locals to have a port is coming true with the launch of the works.
The Greenfield, all-weather multi-purpose port at Machilipatnam is one of the mega ports and an ambitious project planned under the Sagarmala program. The deepwater seaport, centrally located on the coast of Bay of Bengal in Krishna district is a grand project that is poised to kick-start the local economy thereby uplifting the social ecosystem of the area.
Port-based SEZs, power plants, industries, ancillary units etc. are also planned in the vicinity of the port.
Spread over 4,800 acres, the first phase is expected to be complete and operational in record time of 18 months. With four berths to be operational after the first phase of construction, Machilipatnam will have 40 million tonnes capacity in the first phase and when complete, 150 million tonnes.
The port will handle multiple cargos like container, bulk, dry bulk, liquid bulk, general cargo and project cargo.
Chinta Sridhar, who is the managing director of the port developer Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd, said, “We aim to develop the port in a record time of 18 months. Given Machilipatnam’s access to prominent international waterways, the project will be a significant catalyst in positioning India strategically as a global international trading hub.”
