VIJAYAWADA: The much-touted ship building unit at Machilipatnam port is unlikely. Instead, a ship repairing unit may come up at the port. “Ships built in China are much cheaper than those made within India. Ship building is a costly affair. Instead, a ship repairing unit may be a possibility at Machilipatnam port,” Anil Yendluri, director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Krishnapatnam port, a flagship project of Navayuga Engineering Company Limited (NECL), which is going to build the port at Machilipatnam.
NECL built Krishnapatnam port in 18 months. “We are ready to accomplish the task in Machilipatnam too if the state government hands over the land at the earliest,” he said. NECL was awarded the port project in 2009, but works could not be taken up owing to protests from villagers.
The state government in July this year announced its plans to acquire 30,000 acres of land for construction of the massive port, inviting wrath of farmers of 18 villages in Machilipatnam and Pedana mandals. In 2010, when Machilipatnam Port Ltd, a special purpose vehicle (SPV), was set up to build the deep-water port, then government had said it would acquire 5,324 acres.
The farmers and fishermen are questioning the need to take away a whopping 30,000 acres of land when 2,500 acres is all what required to develop the port. However, the government has notified 4,800 acres of land for the port and 25,000 acres for establishment of industries and ancilliary units along the coast.
