Sarbananda Sonowal Discusses New Projects in Andhra Pradesh Under Sagarmala Programme
The Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, addressed a question in the Lok Sabha about the Sagarmala Project proposals in Andhra Pradesh. He confirmed receiving 29 new proposals worth Rs 3,300 crore from the Government of Andhra Pradesh. These proposals include port development, coastal berths, and fish landing centres.
Sonowal highlighted that 13 projects in Andhra Pradesh, valued at around Rs 2,500 crore, are currently receiving financial assistance under the Sagarmala Scheme. These projects include Ro-Pax and passenger jetties, fishing harbours, port modernization, and skill development. The Ministry has already sanctioned Rs 450 crore for these projects.
The Visakhapatnam Port Authority and IWAI have undertaken 36 projects in Andhra Pradesh, with a combined investment of Rs 4,600 crore. Among these, 22 projects worth Rs 2,530 crore have been completed, while 14 projects worth Rs 2,070 crore are in various stages of implementation. A new international cruise terminal at Visakhapatnam Port has been built to serve passengers from around the world.
Sonowal mentioned that projects with high social impact but low or no return on investment are being provided financial assistance under the Sagarmala Scheme. Out of the 29 new proposals, the Ministry has partially funded four projects worth Rs 1,200 crore. For the development of Bhavanapadu Port, Ramayapatnam Port, and Machilipatnam Port, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has been asked to restructure the projects and explore funding under PM GatiShakti.
Sonowal emphasized the Sagarmala Programme’s goal of transforming the maritime sector and leveraging the country’s extensive coastline for port-led development. Funding for these projects is provided through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), equity participation, and grant-in-aid assistance.
He also announced the establishment of two Centres of Excellence in Maritime and Shipbuilding (CEMS) in Mumbai and Visakhapatnam. The Visakhapatnam centre has trained over 10,000 students in engineering and technical skills.
Additionally, the Visakhapatnam Port Authority’s project to upgrade the Golden Jubilee Hospital to a 300-bedded Multi-Disciplinary Super Specialty Hospital has been approved. This project, costing Rs 222.43 crore, aims to reduce medical expenses for VPA employees and create job opportunities.
Sonowal noted that the nation’s port capacity has increased by 86% since 2014-15, reaching over 2,500 MTPA in 2022-23, and the cargo handling capacity at Major Ports has doubled.
This update highlights the government’s commitment to enhancing maritime infrastructure and promoting coastal community development through the Sagarmala Programme.
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Sarbananda Sonowal -: Sarbananda Sonowal is an Indian politician who is currently serving as the Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.
Andhra Pradesh -: Andhra Pradesh is a state in the southeastern part of India, known for its long coastline along the Bay of Bengal.
Sagarmala Programme -: The Sagarmala Programme is an initiative by the Indian government to enhance the performance of the country’s logistics sector by modernizing ports and improving coastal infrastructure.
Lok Sabha -: The Lok Sabha is the lower house of India’s Parliament, where elected representatives discuss and make laws.
Rs 3,300 crore -: Rs 3,300 crore is a large amount of money in Indian currency, where ‘Rs’ stands for Rupees and ‘crore’ means ten million.
port development -: Port development involves building and improving facilities where ships load and unload goods.
fish landing centres -: Fish landing centres are places where fishermen bring their catch to be sold or processed.
Visakhapatnam Port Authority -: The Visakhapatnam Port Authority manages the port in Visakhapatnam, a major city in Andhra Pradesh.
IWAI -: IWAI stands for Inland Waterways Authority of India, which is responsible for developing and regulating inland waterways for shipping and navigation.
maritime sector -: The maritime sector includes all activities related to the sea, such as shipping, fishing, and port operations.
hospital upgrade -: A hospital upgrade means improving the facilities and services of a hospital to provide better healthcare.
