Sonowal inaugurates State’s largest mall in Visakhapatnam
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the largest shopping mall in Andhra Pradesh in Visakhapatnam on Monday.
Speaking at the event, he said the Centre is focusing on unlocking commercial land to drive economic growth. He also noted that the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) has secured investment commitments of over ₹39,000 crore through MoUs.
“Projects like the ₹29,662 crore Dugarajapatnam Port and Shipbuilding Cluster will strengthen Visakhapatnam as a logistics hub,” he said. “In addition, works worth about ₹1,390 crore are underway.”
These projects include berth modernisation, storage facilities, and truck terminals. They also cover railway electrification and multi-modal connectivity.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sonowal highlighted VPA’s sustainability efforts. He praised the 10 MW solar power plant, which can expand to 30 MW. He also mentioned the 630-acre green belt and plantation drives.
Further, he pointed to initiatives such as LED lighting and shore power supply. He also referred to the ₹83 crore Beach Nourishment Project at Ramakrishna Beach.
Later, M. Angamuthu, Chairperson of VPA, said the port aims to build a strong ecosystem. This, he said, will encourage private participation and speed up projects.
“Land drives economic growth and creates jobs,” he said. He added that the mall has generated 2,500–3,000 direct jobs. It has also created up to 10,000 indirect jobs.
At the same time, Neel Raheja, Group President of K Raheja Corp, said the company has invested around ₹600 crore. He added that the mall will open on March 27. Moreover, he said an eight-screen multiplex will open in about two-and-a-half months. It will have a seating capacity of 1,600.
The VPA allotted 16.3 acres for the project. It will house over 320 brands. The total built-up area stands at 1.4 million sq. ft. Meanwhile, P. Vishnu Kumar Raju welcomed the project. He said it will create jobs for local youth.
The event also saw the presence of MP M Sribharat. In addition, VPA Deputy Chairperson Roshni Aparanji Korati and Chief Vigilance Officer T. Arun Prasad attended, along with other officials.