Given the increasing cargo volume of Visakhapatnam Port, which is strategically located on the centre of the east coast, several measures for the removal of bottlenecks to ensure faster evacuation of cargo have been taken by Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT).
The port undertook seven connectivity projects at a cost of Rs 274 crore, including completed projects of first phase electrification of East Yard at a cost of Rs 20 crore, direct connection from Ore Exchange Complex to Western Sector of the port costing Rs 22 crore, four-lane port connectivity road by spending Rs 7 crore, and new road at a cost of Rs 24 crore.
There are other projects too, among them being upgradation of the R&D yard and construction of grade separator to decongest the traffic from National Highway to Convent Junction which is about 4 km away from the container terminal. Besides, an external road would be developed for connectivity from Sheelanagar, Pendurti-Anandapuram Road at a cost of Rs 549 crore. To be undertaken by the National Highways Authority of India, it would facilitate seamless container traffic movement from the state highways to the NH 16 connecting Vizag, complemented by a dedicated port corridor which is free from civic traffic.
These initiatives are playing a pivotal role in connecting various corridors in the hinterland to the container terminal, with faster cargo evacuation creating room for more business. The port has completed PPP projects with an investment of Rs 1,074 crore.
Expansion of Visakha Container Terminal is also in place with an extended quay length of 395 m along with augmented equipment to meet the requirements of the envisaged growth at Visakhapatnam.
