The minister also laid the foundation stones for three cargo-terminal projects worth approximately ₹5.8 billion at Visakhapatnam Port.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal dedicated a new waterfront promenade at Visakhapatnam Port to the public and laid foundation stones for a series of infrastructure projects collectively valued at about ₹5.6 billion in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.
The centrepiece of the initiative is the ₹190 million Port Promenade, a 710-metre waterfront development extending from the Venkateswara Temple to the International Cruise Terminal. Spread across 5.5 acres, the facility provides residents with public access to the harbour and designated viewing areas for ships and port operations.
“It opens up the port to the city,” Sonowal said.
Linking the project to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of inclusive development, Sonowal said the initiative reflects efforts to make citizens active participants in infrastructure development. He added that terminal operating contracts associated with the projects are expected to create employment opportunities for around 500 residents.
“A port that opens its gates to the people, and gives local youth the work of running its berths, is that vision in action,” he said.
The promenade features a waterfront walkway, two viewing decks, including a Titanic-style viewing point, a public plaza, children’s play area, food court and visitor parking. Developed on existing port land, the project was completed without affecting cargo operations and is expected to complement the adjoining cruise terminal.
Sonowal also laid foundation stones for three operation and maintenance contracts covering existing cargo terminals, together valued at approximately ₹5.8 billion. The projects cover the West Quay (WQ)-1 and WQ-1 Reclaimed Extension (RE) berths, WQ-2 and WQ-3 berths, and East Quay (EQ)-3 berth. Under the contracts, operators will mechanise the facilities through the deployment of cranes, conveyor systems and environmental-control measures.
“Through these projects, VPA (Visakhapatnam Port Authority) will secure assured cargo throughput and achieve optimum capacity utilisation in these berths,” Sonowal said.
The minister also laid the foundation stone for expanding the port’s sewage treatment capacity from 10 million litres per day (MLD) to 15 MLD, including the construction of a new 5 MLD treatment plant, at an estimated cost of ₹110 million. The treated water will continue to be used for dust suppression, road wetting and stockyard sprinkling as part of the ministry’s Harit Sagar green-port initiative.
Modernising Port Operations
Sonowal said Visakhapatnam Port handled a record 91.17 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo during FY2025-26, representing growth of around 10 per cent and marking its fourth consecutive year of expansion. Between April 1 and October 31, cargo throughput increased by 4.44 MMT, or 8.88 per cent, compared with the corresponding period last year.
“You must beat last year’s target of 10 per cent growth,” Sonowal told port employees during an interaction at the event.
The projects were launched ahead of the 31st CII Partnership Summit 2026, scheduled to be hosted by the Andhra Pradesh Government on November 12-13 under the theme ‘Navigating New World Order: Trade, Technology, Trust’.
Visakhapatnam Port is also implementing four public-private partnership projects worth about ₹8 billion, which are under construction and expected to be commissioned by 2027.
The port operates one of India’s deepest container terminals, with a permissible draft of 16 metres, and is transitioning to a landlord-port model to reduce vessel turnaround times and lower logistics costs.
Sonowal also thanked Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and the state government for supporting the port’s development initiatives.