Visakhapatnam port’s capacity rises to 120 million tonnes

Visakhapatnam port capacity has now risen to 120 million tonnes with 27 berths. More projects are in line to further enhance the capacity.

While reviewing the progress of the port on Thursday, Chairman MT Krishnababu said that the port handled 63.5 million tonnes of cargo last year and has set a target of 67 million tonnes for 2018-19. “We are sure we will achieve, and even surpass, the target,” he added.

He also said, “We are taking all possible steps to reduce pollution to the minimum, acceptable levels and to cause no inconvenience to the citizens.”

Speaking about the other places in Andhra Pradesh where new ports are being planned to be established, Krishnababu mentioned, “ “There was a proposal initially to set up a major port at Dugarajapatnam in Nellore district and it was also included in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, but the proposal was given up as it was found to be technically unviable. The AP Government was asked to choose an alternative site and a technical committee was also constituted to find an alternative.”

Established in 1933 by the British, the port started with the capacity of 2 lakh tonnes.