Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said that they are working with a plan to achieve a port-based economy in the state through a long coastline. He said that maritime projects will be established by fully utilizing the more than 1000 km coastline in the state. He reviewed the projects and ports to be undertaken in the coastal areas of the state at the CM Secretariat.
The CM reviewed with the Secretary of the Central Government’s Department of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, T.K. Ramachandran, as well as several central and state officials. On this occasion, they discussed the status of the existing ports in the state and the newly constructed ports.
CM Chandrababu told the central government officials that they are planning to build a port or a fishing harbor every 50 km in the coastal area. At the time of the bifurcation of the state, the Center had agreed to set up port-based industries in Dugarajapatnam, Nellore district. The issue of setting up a shipbuilding and repair cluster in Dugarajapatnam, which came under the Tirupati district with the formation of the new district, was discussed with them.
According to the initial feasibility report, it has been decided to set up a shipbuilding center on 2,000 acres in partnership with the central and state governments. The shipbuilding and repair cluster in Dugarajapatnam will be developed along with a greenfield port. A shipbuilding center with 4 dry docks, outfitting jetties, and ship lift facilities will come here. The shipbuilding industry will require 1,000 acres of land and another 1,000 acres for allied industries.
The center will have to spend about Rs. 3,500 crore to undertake this project. The state government will acquire land. Along with land acquisition, it will be developed as a suitable area for the industry. Later, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will be formed and world-class companies will be invited to set up a shipbuilding industry here. The shipbuilding center will bring in investments of about Rs. 26 thousand crores.
This project will directly benefit 5000 people and indirectly 30 thousand people. The CM made several suggestions to the officials to take this project forward. The CM instructed the officials to immediately prepare the necessary activities for this. The CM asked the central officials to provide more affordable freight transportation opportunities at the Visakhapatnam port, which is the capital of the state.
Similarly, the officials also explained the opportunities for cruise tourism projects in the state in this meeting. The CM suggested the officials to study the issue of developing river cruise circuits in Polavaram, Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar areas. The officials participated in the review along with Minister B.C. Janardhan Reddy.