Andhra Pradesh can become a maritime gateway to the East: Sonowal
Andhra Pradesh has the potential to emerge as a major maritime and logistics hub through investments in port infrastructure, shipbuilding and ship repair, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said on Thursday.
Addressing the 31st CII Partnership Summit here, he said the State’s 1,053-km coastline, proximity to major Asian economies and access to international shipping routes offered it an opportunity to become India’s gateway to ASEAN, East Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
“If Hyderabad became Cyberabad, Andhra Pradesh today has the opportunity to become India’s maritime gateway to the East,” he said.
Mr. Sonowal said foundation stones were laid on Wednesday for projects worth over ₹560 crore at Visakhapatnam Port. Four greenfield ports at Mulapeta, Machilipatnam, Ramayapatnam and Kakinada SEZ are also under construction to enhance the State’s cargo-handling capacity.
He identified the proposed shipbuilding cluster at Dugarajapatnam as a major opportunity. The project, which has received in-principle approval under the National Shipbuilding Mission, envisages an investment of about ₹30,000 crore and an annual capacity of 1.2 million gross tonnes. A special purpose vehicle involving the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board and the Visakhapatnam Port Authority has been formed to take it forward.
The Centre has earmarked ₹70,000 crore in financing support for shipbuilding and other maritime activities, he said, adding that India aims to become one of the world’s top five shipbuilding nations.
Initiatives such as Sagarmala, Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 together envisage investments of ₹80 lakh crore in the maritime sector. The Minister also referred to the ₹10,000-crore Container Manufacturing Scheme and the proposed ₹10,000-crore Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme.
Calling for greater use of artificial intelligence, automation and digital logistics platforms, he said Andhra Pradesh had an opportunity to develop smart ports and strengthen its maritime competitiveness.