Gangavaram port to start operations from April

The Gangavaram port, a public-private partnership initiative, is likely commence operations from April next year.

According to the port sources, though the promoters (DVS Raju consortium) had planned to complete the construction work by the end of December, it was delayed due two recent cyclones.

To avoid the damages caused by cyclones, the management has decided to construct an 1,800-metre wave protection wall along the southern breakwaters.

So far, 75 per cent of the dredging works, 60 per cent civil works and 50 per cent of breakwater works have been completed. While L&T is carrying out the civil and breakwater works, dredging is being undertaken by Dredge International.

Spain-based Durofiligra has bagged the mechanical equipment supply contract and the first consignment is likely to arrive this month.

"The equipment will come through ship, which will enter the Gangavaram port by November-end. Accordingly, we are completing one berth to unload the equipment," the sources said.

In the first phase, the port is constructing five berths to handle iron ore, coal and other bulk cargo with an investment of about Rs 2,000 crore. The state government, which has been offered 11 per cent equity in the project, has allotted 24,00 acres of land.

The port is laying a 3.5-km-long conveyer belt from the berth to Visakhapatnam Steel Plant to move iron ore and coal besides constructing deep draft berths to handle up to 2 lakh DWT (deadweight tonnage) vessels.