Meeting held in Vizag to discuss 24/7 highway connectivity for ports

Visakhapatnam A meeting was held on Tuesday in Visakhapatnam with the initiative of BJP MP GVL Narasimha Rao on developing 24/7 highway connectivity for ports, industrial parks and SEZs. The meeting dis cussed the infrastructure bottlenecks, stoppage of heavy vehicles, immediate and long-term solutions for seamless connectivity to the ports.

The meeting was an effort towards realising infrastructural development of Visakhapatnam as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi under PM Gati Shakti Yojana. Senior representatives of Visakhapatnam and Gangavaram ports, shipping and logistics industry representatives, customs and clearance agents, transport association representatives, senior NHAI officials and others attended.

G Sambasiva Rao, MD, Sravan Shipping said that there should be no stoppage of cargo and highlighted the immediate need for expansion of road infrastructure in the two phases under PM Gati Shakti for a long term solution. Chairman of AP Chambers Visakhapatnam Zone KRB Prakash said non-availability of sufficient rakes is an issue which needs to be addressed immediately.

Among other members present in the meeting were Ragam Kishore, CEO, Vizag Seaport Private Ltd and NHAI Project Director Prabhat Ranjan. Industry representatives stated that at present, lack of seamless 24x7 connectivity of the Visakhapatnam and Gangavaram ports have created serious problems for the trade and industry and this has seriously hampered business and Visakhapatnam economy.