Seeks support for greenfield Port & Shipbuilding centre @ Bapatla
Minister for Roads and Buildings, Investments and Infrastructure Mr. BC Janardhan Reddy represented Andhra Pradesh at the fourth National Sagarmala Apex Committee (NSAC) meeting held in Delhi recently.
The meeting was chaired by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Mr.Sarbananda Sonowal and attended by key leaders including Union Minister for Roads, Transport & Highways, Mr Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Mr. Shantanu Thakur, and several chief ministers, ministers and senior officials from coastal States.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Janardhan Reddy stressed the importance of the Central government’s role in uniting coastal States for the development of India’s maritime sector.
He highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s commitment to becoming India’s maritime hub. Under the Swarna Andhra @ 2047 initiative, the State aims to develop into a key global maritime centre while growing its economy to a $1 trillion GDP by 2047.
He also acknowledged the leadership of Chandrababu Naidu in implementing crucial measures for the development of Andhra Pradesh’s maritime sector. The State is investing Rs 17,000 crore to develop four greenfield ports at Ramayapatnam, Machili- patnam, Kakinada and Mulapet.
Additionally, Rs 3,520 crore is allocated to develop ten fishing harbours in the region. Mr.Reddy stressed the need for skilled labour in the maritime industry and announced the establishment of a skill development centre at the Ramaya patnam Port, for which technical approval has been received from the MoPSW.
Andhra Pradesh is also working on its State Maritime Waterways Master Plan (SMWMP) and has identified several projects under the Sagarmala program. Mr Reddy requested the Central government’s support in funding these projects to further the development of the State’s maritime sector.
In addition to his participation in the NSAC meeting, the Minister presented a memorandum to Mr Sonowal requesting the establishment of a greenfield port and shipbuilding centre in the Motupalli-Pedaganjam area of Bapatla district.
