Mulapeta Deepwater Port to begin trial run in December

The Greenfield Mulapeta Deepwater Port in Srikakulam district is set to receive its first ship in December for a trial run. If all goes as planned, the port will be commissioned by June next year, giving north coastal Andhra Pradesh its third operational port and a major push to industrial growth.

The port, located 180 km from Visakhapatnam, is being built by the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board at a cost of Rs 4,300 crore. In the first phase, it will have four berths within an artificial harbour protected by two breakwaters. The southern breakwater is 2,855 metres long, while the northern one is 580 metres.

The harbour will have a draft of 52 feet, making it capable of handling vessels up to 1.2 lakh deadweight tonnage. It will handle containers, coal and multipurpose cargo, placing it among the country’s deep-draft ports.

Officials say the port will act as a catalyst for development in north Andhra. About 7,000 acres near the port have been set aside for industries, with investment proposals worth over Rs 2 lakh crore. Companies such as ExxonMobil, Haldia Petrochemicals, Yamna of the UK and Kalyani Steels of Mumbai have shown interest in setting up units.

The Visakhapatnam Port Authority has also submitted an expression of interest to make a strategic investment. Once operational, the Mulapeta Port is expected to handle bulk cargo such as coal, fertilisers, minerals, LNG and LPG. Its all-weather operability and location near industrial corridors give it strong logistical advantages.

Connectivity will be further strengthened with a 200-km coastal highway linking the port to Bhogapuram Airport in Vizianagaram district, sanctioned by the Centre. Officials believe this will boost trade and integrate the region more closely with global supply chains.