To enable development of ports and logistics parks, the State government has directed the administration to focus on establishing connectivity between ports, roads, rail and inland waterways. Specifically, it has been directed to ensure connectivity of the Kakinada-Puducherry and Kakinada-Bhadrachalam inland waterways with the ports closest to them.
In a review of progress made on the Government’s Maritime Concept Master Plan on Tuesday, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu favoured development of Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Machilipatnam and Krishnapatnam ports as mega coastal cities and development of plans on the lines of On Belt One Road initiative of China to ensure seamless connectivity between them. The government is also planning to develop Kakinada, Krishnapatnam, Machilipatnam and Gangavaram as mega ports while Visakhapatnam, Bhavanapadu, Narasapuram and Ramayapatnam had the potential for development as large ports.
Officials have been told to initiate steps to set up skill development centres to train youth on cargo handling, container segregation and related areas to achieve at least 10 per cent growth in cargo in the coming 10 years. The departments concerned could take assistance of reputed institutions like Singapore Maritime University and Korea Research Institute in this direction, the Chief Minister said.
Further, comprehensive plans should be prepared on development of small ports such as Meghavaram, Kalingapatnam, Bheemunipatnam, Nakkapalli, Kakinada deep water and anchorage ports, Ravva, Nizampatnam, Vadrevu and Dugarajapatnam. The Chief Minister wanted officials to focus on setting up a mega inter-change hub near the upcoming capital Amaravati and a pharmaceutical logistics park at Visakhapatnam. Mr. Naidu directed officials to explore the possibilities of developing a food and electronics park at Machilipatnam and an automobile and truck terminal at Nellore.
