Minister seeks Central assistance for port-led development in A.P.

Minister for Roads & Buildings and Infrastructure & Investments B.C. Janardhan Reddy met Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, along with Union Minister for Civil Aviation K. Rammohan Naidu, in New Delhi on Friday.

They held discussions on strengthening the coastal infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh and the measures required for port-led development.

Mr. Janardhan Reddy sought the Visakhapatnam Port Authority's (VPA) participation in the development of Mulapeta port and Central assistance for the allocation of salt lands for port development in the State.

He also wanted speedy approvals for the connectivity roads to the Gangavaram port and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India’s captive port in Anakapalli under the Sagarmala scheme.

Further, Mr. Janardhan Reddy requested the Union Minister to provide financial assistance for the fishing harbour projects under Sagarmala 2.0 and Central support for the development of Dugarajapatnam mega shipbuilding cluster.

He mentioned the State’s ambition to transform Andhra Pradesh into a port-led maritime corridor. Special Chief Secretary (R&B and I&I) M.T. Krishna Babu and AP Maritime Board CEO Praveen Aditya were among the senior officials present.