Once commissioned, they will raise Andhra Pradesh’s total port cargo-handling capacity by more than 50 per cent | Photo Credit: RAO GN

Three of the five greenfield ports under construction in Andhra Pradesh are expected to be ready within the next six months, significantly boosting the State’s maritime infrastructure and cargo-handling capabilities.

The ports at Machilipatnam, Ramayapatnam and Mulapeta are likely to be operational between December 2026 and March 2027. Once commissioned, they will raise Andhra Pradesh’s total port cargo-handling capacity by more than 50 per cent.

“With the addition of these ports, the State’s total cargo-handling capacity will increase from the current 195 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) to 286 MMTPA,” MT Krishna Babu, Special Chief Secretary (Investments & Infrastructure), Government of Andhra Pradesh, told businessline.

The NDA government led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has accorded high priority to the maritime sector, reviving stalled port projects and accelerating construction activity over the past two years as part of its broader strategy to strengthen the blue economy.

While the Visakhapatnam Port operates under the Government of India, the State’s existing port ecosystem includes Krishnapatnam Port, developed under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, Kakinada Anchorage Port, Kakinada Deep Water Port and Gangavaram Port.

The ports currently under development are Machilipatnam, Ramayapatnam, Kakinada SEZ Port, Mulapeta (Bhavanapadu) and the captive AM/NS Rajayapeta Port. The five upcoming ports together entail an investment of ₹22,833 crore.

In addition, the State has formed a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to develop a mega shipbuilding cluster at Duggarajapatnam. The proposed cluster is envisaged to have a shipbuilding capacity of 1.2 million gross tonnage and is expected to attract investments of around ₹29,000 crore, positioning Andhra Pradesh as a major shipbuilding hub on India’s eastern coast..

Andhra Pradesh’s maritime strategy seeks to integrate ports with industrial corridors, logistics parks, manufacturing clusters and multimodal connectivity to accelerate port-led industrialisation. The State is aligning port development with the Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC), coastal economic zones, skill development initiatives and employment generation in coastal communities, while promoting a sustainable blue economy, the official said.

The State aims to have at least one port ranked among the world’s top 20 ports and account for 20 per cent of the total cargo handled by Indian ports by 2047.

Optimal port

As part of its roadmap, the State plans to maintain an optimal port capacity utilisation rate of 75 per cent by 2030 and reduce vessel turnaround time to less than 15 hours, enhancing operational efficiency and competitiveness.

The Government is also targeting to train 5,000 maritime professionals by 2028 through a proposed Maritime University and a network of skill development centres across coastal districts. The initiatives form part of the State’s broader strategy to position itself as a major hub for ports, logistics, shipbuilding and the blue economy.

Published on June 2, 2026