Andhra Pradesh has the ability to develop a “blue economy.”

25 December 2022

Andhra Pradesh’s maritime infrastructure is anticipated to increase quickly as a result of renewed efforts to develop the numerous seaports that dot its 974 km of coastline.

The Krishnapatnam, Kakinada deep water, and Gangavaram ports are among the smaller ports that are thriving; in contrast, the Kakinada anchoring port and the Ravva port are mostly utilised for the import and export of food grains, as well as the gathering of offshore oil from a few rigs in the Krishna-Godavari basin, respectively. The Kakinada anchoring port, which was established about a century ago, is the oldest of these minor ports in terms of their histories, while for a now Machilipatnam port was as a major trading hub for British and other European traders throughout the 18th century. Aside from all this, a spate of new ports are being constructed to boost maritime infrastructure, with the Ramayapatnam port being the first to open. Only 20 kilometres separate it from Nellore city.

The AP Maritime Board (APMB) changed its strategy for building the remaining ports, giving Bhavanapadu (Srikakulam district) and Machilipatnam immediate priority (Krishna). With the exception of a few minor land acquisition concerns that the APMB is working to resolve with the departments involved, they are in advanced stages of tendering and grounding of works. Nine fishing harbours that are now being built by the APMB in two phases have been added to the port infrastructure.