Steps are being taken to expedite the construction of Machilipatnam Port, and as part of this, the Maritime Board is reviewing the construction of the port every month, said Roads, Buildings, Infrastructure and Investment Minister BC Janardhan Reddy and State Mines, Underground Resources and Excise Department Kollu Ravindra.
The ministers, along with ministers K Anitha, Vasamsetty Subhash, Maritime Board Chairman Damacherla Satya, RTC Chairman Konakalla Narayana and District Collector DK Balaji, inspected the construction work of Machilipatnam Port on Monday. Mega Engineering Company General Manager G. Tulsidas explained the progress of the port construction work to the ministers and officials.
Minister Janardhan Reddy recalled that the fishing harbor works were stalled during the previous government and this construction was undertaken with the idea of completing these harbor works quickly at a cost of about Rs. 422 crore. He explained that already about 57 percent of these harbor works have been completed. But he said that there has been a delay in some crucial works. He explained that these nine fishing harbors are being completed at a cost of about Rs. 3500 crore.
On this occasion, Minister Janardhan Reddy instructed Maritime Board Chief Engineer G.V. Raghav Rao visits the port every month and takes steps to expedite the work. The minister said that the contracting company has to complete the construction of the port by October 2025. The contracting company is asking for a deadline of November 2026, and it has been suggested to complete it by mid-2026 by June.
He said that steps have been taken to establish national highways and railway lines to connect the port. He said that Machilipatnam Port will serve as the gateway of Amaravati to the capital Amaravati.
Speaking, Minister Kollu Ravindra said that the construction of Machilipatnam Port is being done as a result of the TDP struggle. He said that the previous YSRCP government neglected the construction of the port. He expressed hope that the area will develop with the construction of the port.
He said that lands are available for the construction of the port as well as allied industries. He said that the construction of the port will provide employment and employment opportunities to the youth of the area. Later, the ministers, officials and the construction work of Machilipatnam Fishing Harbor were inspected.