Make VPA A Sustainable Port, Min Tells Project Operators

Visakhapatnam: Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur on Wednesday urged the Public-Private Partnership PPP (PPP) project operators to extend their full cooperation to make Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) into a sustainable green port.

After a review meeting with the PPP operators and the stakeholders, he appreciated the team spirit and developmental initiatives of VPA and encouraged the authority to explore opportunities in shipbuilding, ship repair, ship recycling since VPA being the strategic port in Andhra Pradesh having a long coastline in the East Coast and to facilitate cruise tourism.

In his response, VPA Chairperson M Angamuthu assured that the suggestions would be taken forward for the overall growth and development of the port.

Review with the stakeholders focused onaligning with the Prime Minister’s vision to make India pollution free. The Union Minister requested the stakeholders to explore the possibilities to make use of green initiatives in back-end and front end of the operations. He also visited Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCIL), in which VPA has a majority stake and reviewed the projects being taken up by the Visakhapatnam-headquartered company.

Earlier, Angamuthu extended a warm welcome to the Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, who was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour upon his arrival. He visited various operational areas of the port and reviewed the progress of PPP projects undertaken by VPA.

The Chairperson made a detailed presentation highlighting VPA’s infrastructure facilities, key performance indicators, rail and road connectivity, modernisation efforts, green initiatives including plantation and solar energy projects, upgradation of the fishing harbour, and implementation of dust suppression systems. IT initiatives and community outreach efforts through CSR were also shared, including skill training, educational programs for tribal youth, and placement support in reputed organisations.

Thakur later visited Centre of Excellence in Maritime & Ship Building (CEMS) and distributed course completion certificate and placement letters to 60 tribal youth of Alluri Seetharamaraju district in the field of arc welding and inventory clerk as a part of CSR initiative under skill development programme sponsored by Visakhapatnam Port Authority. District Collector of ASR Dinesh Kumar appreciated VPA for sponsoring through CSR funds by empowering the tribal youth.

VPA Deputy Chairman Durgesh Kumar Dubey, Chief Vigilance Officer PSL Swami and other senior officials were present.