Capt. Sriram Ravi Chander, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Vizag Container Terminal Private Limited, has said: “I am confident of a very bright future for port sector in the region as The Look East’ policy, growth in the manufacturing sector, development of Special Economic Zones and industrial enclaves offer ample scope for growth.”The port sector traffic in Visakhapatnam region is set to witness a quantum jump in the years to come consequent on increasing demand and vast hinterland stretching over Odisha, Chattisgarh, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.
As of now, the two ports located in the City – Visakhapatnam Port in the public sector (the second largest port in India) and Gangavaram Port (a minor port developed by Gangavaram Port Limited (GPL) in 2009 under Public Private Partnership mode) – handle an annual cargo of 85 million tonnes.
The participants at the East Coast Business Summit held in the City recently also felt that the region with deep draft facility offers a splendid opportunity for making a shipping hub on the East Coast. The direct flight availability to Singapore close on the heels of launching air link to Dubai is also expected to facilitate easy access to investors world-wide.
The ambitious Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) between Visakhapatnam and Kakinada, alumina refineries, proposed Greenfield oil refinery by HPCL along with other partners and the expansion programme of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, will further give a fillip to the development of the Visakhapatnam.
Realising the need to handle high volume of traffic, Visakhapatnam Port has already finalised a blueprint to handle 130 million tonnes by 2016-17 with an investment of INR 3,000 crores.
The port handled a throughput of 67.41 million tonnes during 2011-12. The Visakhapatnam Port Trust is in the process of finalising a consultant to prepare a harbour blueprint and layout at Mulakedu, near Bhimunipatnam, for setting up a satellite port with an estimated investment of INR 2,000 crores.
Gangavaram Port is investing nearly INR 1,000 crores to expand its handling capacity from 16.54 million tonnes to 40.95 million tonnes.
RINL has engaged a consultant for a feasibility study on developing a captive jetty at Gangavaram to save freight cost. At present, it depends on Gangavaram Port located on its backyard for transporting its raw material and finished products.
It is learnt that the State Government is also keen to promote minor ports at Bhimunipatnam, Kalingapatnam, Bhavanapadu and other places in North Andhra to cash in on the growing demand for transporting cargo by sea.
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