Andhra Pradesh to Be Developed as Gateway of East Coast: CM N Chandrababu Naidu
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday unveiled a roadmap to transform the state into India’s premier logistics hub on the East Coast. The announcement was made at the East Coast Maritime Logistics Summit held in Visakhapatnam.
Speaking to maritime leaders and logistics experts, CM Naidu said Visakhapatnam is the safest city for women and is set to become a major technology hub. The Chief Minister added that data centers will be developed on a global scale, supported by submarine cables from Singapore to enhance international digital connectivity.
The Chief Minister outlined plans to expand port infrastructure. Currently, Andhra Pradesh has six operational ports, with plans to construct four more by 2046. “Our goal is to have a port every 50 kilometers,” he said, highlighting the strategic advantage of the state’s only 18-meter-deep port on the East Coast outside existing facilities.
He also noted that the state ranks second nationally in sea cargo handling and benefits from three major industrial corridors. Plans include leveraging 1,500 kilometers of inland waterways and restoring the historic Buckingham Canal between Kakinada and Chennai.
The state will expand the aviation sector with new international airports, including the upcoming Bhogapuram airport. CM Naidu announced that the GMR Group will establish an aviation university, and air cargo facilities are planned at multiple locations to strengthen logistics connectivity.
Andhra Pradesh will enter cutting-edge technology with the creation of Quantum Valley in Amaravati. A drone city in Kurnool will support operations across ports, agriculture, and healthcare, while the state moves toward green shipping corridors and digital logistics platforms using IoT, AI, and blockchain for real-time cargo tracking and predictive maintenance.
CM Naidu emphasized the “one family, one entrepreneur” policy, drawing parallels with the “one family, one IT professional” initiative from 25 years ago. He highlighted that 35 percent of Indians working in IT globally belong to the Telugu community.
To address financing, the Chief Minister proposed moving from traditional PPP models to gap funding approaches, inviting investors to form consortiums. He promised transparent and swift policy implementation and announced biannual meetings with industry stakeholders for continuous policy refinement.
During the summit, CM Naidu visited six maritime startup stalls, including Blurgs AI, Docker Vision, Oltio Maritime, Automaxis, Easylane, and Aim Locate, highlighting the state’s support for innovation in maritime logistics.