In a significant update on India’s maritime infrastructure, Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal presented a detailed written reply in Parliament, highlighting major developments and investments in Andhra Pradesh’s port sector.
Machilipatnam Port Timeline and Funding
Sonowal revealed that construction of the Machilipatnam Port, which began on April 21, 2023, is expected to be completed by October 2025. This Non-Major Port, under the administrative control of the Government of Andhra Pradesh, is not included in the central government’s Sagarmala Scheme. However, it is supported by a substantial term loan of Rs 3,940.42 crores from the Power Finance Corporation (PFC) to the Machilipatnam Port Development Corporation Limited (MPDCL), a subsidiary of the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board (APMB).
Further investments are being made by the Visakhapatnam Port Authority and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), which have undertaken 36 projects in Andhra Pradesh amounting to Rs 4,600 crores. Of these, 22 projects worth approximately Rs 2,530 crores have been completed, and 14 projects, valued at Rs 2,070 crores, are at various stages of implementation. Among these developments is a state-of-the-art International Cruise cum Coastal Terminal at Visakhapatnam Port, designed to accommodate both international and domestic passengers.
India’s port capacity has seen substantial growth, exceeding 2,500 MTPA in the fiscal year 2022-23, marking an 86% increase from 2014-15. This period also saw the cargo handling capacity at Major Ports double. The advancements reflect the government’s commitment to enhancing port infrastructure and operational efficiency.
Under the Sagarmala initiative, two Centres of Excellence in Maritime and Shipbuilding (CEMs) have been established in Mumbai and Visakhapatnam. The Visakhapatnam campus, integrated with the Indian Maritime University, is the first of its kind in Asia, featuring 18 laboratories and providing employable engineering and technical skills to over 10,000 students.