CII conference focuses on strengthening Visakhapatnam’s role as East Coast logistics hub
The second edition of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Andhra Pradesh’s Conference on Ports and Logistics was held here on Thursday, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, logistics experts, and infrastructure stakeholders to deliberate on measures to strengthen Visakhapatnam’s position as a major logistics and trade hub on India’s East Coast.
The conference, themed “The Visakhapatnam Pivot: Building an Integrated East Coast Logistics Corridor,” focused on improving multimodal connectivity, cargo evacuation, and the development of an integrated logistics ecosystem to support industrial growth and trade.
Addressing the conference, Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) Deputy Chairperson Roshni Aparanji Korati said the port had emerged as a key maritime gateway, handling a diverse range of cargo through the coordinated efforts of Indian Railways, Customs, shipping lines, and the State government.
She announced that the VPA would construct nine elevated flyovers at an estimated cost of ₹334 crore to improve last-mile connectivity and facilitate faster cargo evacuation. As part of the port’s environmental initiatives, all warehouses within the port premises would also be covered to minimise environmental impact, she said.
CII Andhra Pradesh Vice-Chairman Dr. G. Sambasiva Rao said ports had historically driven the growth of cities, industries, and economies. He said improved connectivity was essential to reducing logistics costs.
He noted that Andhra Pradesh’s six operational ports currently handle around 198 million tonnes of cargo annually, a figure expected to rise to nearly 500 million tonnes in the coming years. Strengthening cargo evacuation infrastructure would help reduce transit time, facilitate faster movement of goods, and improve logistics efficiency, he added.
R Dhananjayulu, Adviser (Railways and Logistics), Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board, said the State, under the Swarna Andhra @2047 vision, aims to become a ₹308 lakh crore (US$2.4 trillion) economy by 2047.
He said the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board was developing a digital dashboard to improve digital integration and infrastructure transparency across the State’s coastal network. Alongside broader State data initiatives under the Swarna Andhra @2047 framework, efforts were also under way to strengthen physical and digital monitoring systems to support the development and operation of new greenfield ports.
Additional Member (Traffic), Railway Board, Devendra Kumar said Indian Railways was implementing digital reforms to improve inbound and outbound freight movement. The Railways was also expanding multi-tracking infrastructure for freight transportation to facilitate faster cargo evacuation, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen the logistics network, he said.
CII Visakhapatnam Zone Chairman G. Krishna Mohan said Visakhapatnam had evolved from a port city into a strategic industrial and logistics hub serving Andhra Pradesh and its resource-rich hinterland.
He said strengthening multimodal connectivity, modern logistics infrastructure, and efficient cargo movement would be critical to enhancing industrial competitiveness. CII Visakhapatnam would continue to work with the government and industry to build a world-class logistics ecosystem for the region, he added.
The conference also featured panel discussions on multimodal connectivity, supply chain integration, and logistics competitiveness. Experts discussed strengthening port-rail-road connectivity, improving industrial cargo movement through integrated multimodal systems, and enhancing logistics infrastructure to promote trade, industrial growth, and investment in Andhra Pradesh.