Government sanctions projects worth Rs 8,400 crore in AP

Government has sanctioned projects worth Rs 8,400 crore in Andhra Pradesh (AP) under the Sagarmala initiative. The Sagarmala project aims at 'port-led development' in the country. After a whirlwind tour of projects being undertaken by the Visakhapatnam Port Trust, union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has said that AP would be accorded top priority in encouraging port-led development and improvement in connectivity.

Nitin Gadkari has said that under Sagarmala, the projects worth Rs 8,400 crore which includes LNG terminal at Kakinada with a cost of Rs 3,000 crore, Development of Coastal Food Export berth at Kakinada with a cost of Rs 150 crore, Oil Jetty at Visakhapatnam port at a cost of Rs 100 Crore, additional Stackyard for GCB at Visakhaptanm port with Rs 150 crore and New port development at Vadarevu and Machilipoatnam with a cost of Rs 5,000 Crore.

Minister further added that under this initiative, the NDA Government would spend Rs 12 lakh crore in phases which includes Rs 4 lakh crore on road and railway connectivity and Rs 8 lakh crore on developing 27 industrial clusters. Earlier he inaugurated Container Freight Station developed by the Visakha Container Terminal Private Limited at the cost of Rs 104 crore near Muralinagar in the city and a 10 MW solar power plant set up by Visakhapatnam Port Trust at the cost of Rs 57.5 crore.

The Sagarmala project includes modernisation and mechanisation of all major ports and creation of infrastructure in the minor ports, island improvement, road connectivity and infrastructure facilities to enhance the capacity buddings of all ports in the country.