Rs 15,000 cr lined up for minor ports

Ports to be developed include Kakinada, Krishnapatnam, Nizampatnam & Gangavaram ports

The state government is planning to develop some of the major minor ports in the next five years at an investment of nearly Rs15,000 crore. The ports to be developed include Kakinada, Krishnapatnam, Nizampatnam and Gangavaram ports.

Apart from developing infrastructure facilities, jetties will be constructed for visiting ships to undertake imports and exports of local cargo including cement and iron ore.

"The Gangavaram port near Visakhapatnam will be the India's largest port to be developed at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore," Mangapathirao, commissioner of minor ports, told Business Standard.

Nearly 2,000 acres of land has been acquired for creation of infrastructure facilities including roads, water, power and laying of railway lines connecting the port.

The Gangavaram Ports Limited, which is spearheading the private port, is spending Rs 2,000 crore in the first phase and Rs 1,000 crore in the next phase. The port, dubbed as the largest port in the country, is expected to handle 2 lakh tonnes of cargo.

The Gangavaram port is expected to be commissioned by the year 2007. In the first phase, dredging works and construction of three berths will be undertaken by using seven million cubic metres of concrete.

Plans have been drawn up to develop the Krishnapatnam port at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore. Dredging works will be undertaken to a depth of 16 metres to facilitate visits of ships with one lakh-tonne capacity.

The Nizampatnam port is being developed with private participation at a cost of Rs 10,000 crore. As on today, works worth Rs 6,000 crore have been undertaken including dredging works and building of jetties. The port will benefit cement producers who are in the imports and export activities.

The activity of Kakinada Sea Ports Limited received a fillip with the port expanding its activity to iron ore exports in harmony with the anchorage port. At present, security is being beefed up around the port and the harbour at a cost of Rs 4 crore.

The International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) will press into service 21 APSP force, 24 privates security detection equipment including metal detection of vehicles, besides launching harbour patrolling with speed boats within 33 nautical miles of the port and harbour vicinity. The ISPS will also construct perimeter wall and watch towers around the port.

Security related works will be undertaken by the end of June 2005. The Kakinada port has undertaken dredging works up to a depth of 12 metres to enable it to handle 60,000 DWT vessels. The port, prior to the dredging, was handling only 40,000 DWT vessels.

In the fiscal ended March 31, 2005, as many as 120 vessels called at the port and the number of vessels sailed was 118. Total revenues earned by the port on imports and exports was nearly Rs 4 crore.

Dredging up growth

• The Gangavaram port near Visakhapatnam will be the India's largest port to be developed at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore. The port is expected to be commissioned by 2007
• Plans are afoot to develop the Krishnapatnam port at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore
• The Nizampatnam port is being developed with private participation at a cost of Rs 10,000 crore. The port will benefit cement producers who are in the imports and export activities