The Union government has undertaken 802 Sagarmala projects worth Rs 5.60 lakh crore across India. As per the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), among these 802 projects, Andhra Pradesh accounts for 113 projects with an estimated cost of Rs 1.23 lakh crore.
Nearly 36 projects worth Rs 32.21 crore have already been completed. As part of the plan, the MoPSW is focusing on port connectivity, coastal community development and shipping, as per the suggestions of the Maritime Board.
In this regard, the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal held a review meeting with representatives from the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA), Dredging Corporation of India (DCI), Indian Maritime University (IMU) and Visakhapatnam campus.
The Union Minister has inaugurated Visakhapatnam International Cruise Terminal (VICT) and three other major projects at the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA). VICT is one of the major infrastructure enhancement measures, which has been taken by the Ministry of Ports under the guidelines of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to achieve the Ministry’s goals. The international cruise terminal has been developed as part of the Visakha Port Modernisation project.
As the terminal becomes operationalised, maritime tourism would get a boost and generate employment opportunities. In addition, the city is likely to connect Chennai, Kolkata, Goa, Mumbai and Kandla. Furthermore, the ministry is also expanding the cargo facilities at VPA with advanced technologies.