Visakha Port gearing up to emerge as a preferred gateway in east
Striving to scale up further by ensuring last-mile connectivity, increasing the reach and faster evacuation of cargo
MV Empress, owned by Cordelia Cruises, waiting to sail to Chennai from Vizag International Cruise Terminal, developed by the Visakhapatnam Port AuthorityFile Photo
Visakhapatnam: Aligned with Maritime Agenda-2030, Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) is implementing a multipronged strategy to enhance its capacity through capacity augmentation and improving techno-economic parameters, join the club of 100 million tonne plus in the near future and diversify its activity.
The port, which was open to ocean traffic wayback in 1933, has achieved a historic milestone by handling 85.07 million tonnes of cargo in just 345 days during the current financial year. This is the highest-ever cargo handled in the 92 glorious years of Visakhapatnam Port’s journey. The port is initiating a series of measures for handling cargo in a complete automatic environment. VPA handled a throughput of 82.62 million tonnes in 2024-25.
Dr Angamuthu,Chairperson, VPA, who is consistently motivating and steering the port workforce towards the ambitious financial year target of 90 MT and scale up further by ensuring last-mile connectivity, increasing the reach and faster evacuation of cargo.
He told the Bizz Buzz, “With the patronage from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the workforce, local authorities and the State Government along with the stakeholders, the port is marching ahead to consolidate its position as the most preferred port on the East Coast."
VPA ranked 19th in the world in the Container Port Performance Index (CPPI 2023) emerging as a key gateway for Southeast Asia with plans to make it a transhipment hub. At present, it is in the process of becoming a landlord model as per the vision finalised by the ministry.
As part of its diversification, the port will become a 50 per cent equity participant in the SPV floated by the State Government along with Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board for development of a mega port, ship repair and shipbuilding cluster at Dugarajapatnam in Tirupati district at a cost of Rs29,662 crore.
CPA is also expecting an encouraging response from the State Government for its offer to invest Rs1,500 crore to acquire 49 per cent equity in the greenfield Mulapeta Port now being developed by AP Maritime Board in the nearby Srikakulam district. VPA is keen on developing a Special Economic Zone in the vicinity, sources said.
VPA, Paradip Port Authority (PPA), Sagarmala Finance Corporation and Odisha Government have also signed a Mouto develop a greenfield port at Bahuda with a capacity of 150 million tonnes in September, 2025 with a total investment of Rs21,500 crore.
