The Hindu Business Line : Krishnapatnam port first phase to be ready by June

When the Rs 8,000-crore Krishnapatnam port in Nellore district is completed fully in 2011-12, it is going to be a major container hub, where the big mother ships could anchor, offload their cargo onto smaller ships.

The first phase of the port, which is being taken up with an outlay of Rs 1,200 crore, would be ready by June 2008 with four berths, far ahead of the original December deadline. “The other two phases will be taken up simultaneously. We hope to complete the phases by 2011-12,” Mr C.V. Rao, Chairman and Managing Director of Navayuga Group, told Business Line.

State concession

The group bagged the 50-year concession from the Andhra Pradesh Government to upgrade the existing minor port into a modern deep-drafted multipurpose port.

When all the phases are functional, the port would have a total key wall length (berthing) of 11.5-km, making it easy for ship traffic. Stating that the port would have great potential on the East Coast, he said the Chennai port could not handle the ‘dirty cargo’ (iron ore and coal) after 2008, just in time when Krishnapatnam port would be ready.

Thanks to its proximity, the port would become a location for Tamil Nadu and Karnataka as well. Besides, power units, with a total generation capacities of 10-12,000 MW would be coming up in the area.

The Government sanctioned a special economic zone (SEZ) at Krishnapatnam, further enhancing the potential of the port. To take care of the upcoming industries, the Navayuga group is also setting up a Rs 1,000-crore desalination project with a capacity of 100 MLD. “This will take care of the water needs of the industries in the region,” Mr Rao said.

Connectivity

Keeping in mind the future traffic needs of the place, a Rs 600-crore 114-km railway track is being laid, connecting the port with Obulavaripalli in Kadapa district.

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