CM Naidu Plans Logistics Corporation in AP

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has called for the setting up of a Logistics Corporation to facilitate transport of cargo from AP and neighbouring states by sea ports, airports, roads, rail and even through inter-state waterways.

The Chief Minister chaired a review meeting on industries and infrastructure with senior officials here on Monday. He proposed changes in the maritime policy to facilitate development of airports and ports and to develop the logistics corporation. He said AP was having 20 ports and they were making plans to set up a few more airports wherein huge operations were taking place from the seaports and airports.

Naidu felt the need to develop economic centres in the vicinity of every seaport and airport and called for developing satellite townships linking the seaports and airports so that new areas would be developed, resulting in generation of wealth.

The CM asked the officials to prepare a blueprint and said these could come up at places where such an integrated development could be taken up. He said officials must focus on cargo transport by air, rail, road and sea. Inland waterways should make AP, the number-one state for transport of maritime cargo.

Naidu said since AP was located in the center of both northern and southern states, vis-à-vis cargo movement, it has vast potential for rapid development of cargo routes. He called for efforts to ensure linking of seaports, airports, national highways and rail lines.

He sounded confident that sufficient funds would come from the Centre for national highways and railway lines. Officials must prepare proposals and send them to the Centre for this purpose.

Naidu also wanted the roads in AP to be pothole free.

As for the setting up of the proposed Logistics Corporation in AP, Naidu called for identification of agencies under PPP to develop satellite townships near seaports and airports so that it would help efficient transport of cargo from AP through various routes.

The logistics corporation should serve as a growth engine for AP’s economic development. There should be plans for developing satellite township at MSME parks in all 175 Assembly segments and for the works for construction of airports at Kuppam and Dagadarthi.

He asked officials to take up land acquisition as per schedule and lay internal roads connecting airports and national highways. “Take up such works through viability gap funding if needed,” he said.

Naidu called for making changes in the maritime policy to attract huge investments and initiate steps to set up ports, terminals, ship building units, international waterways, cruise terminals and other amenities. He said officials must make changes in the maritime policy in sync with the Centre’s Ship Building Cluster Scheme Policy.

With regard to finding out suitable places for setting up ship building units. “During construction of these units and ports, the local fishermen should not face any trouble,” he stressed.