AP plans to have marine, port policy

With an aim to reap rich dividend from its lengthy coastline, Andhra Pradesh plans to build a series of ports along its coastal towns.

Unveiling the “port led development model”, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said the state will soon have its own marine and port policy.

Addressing a press conference on the sidelines of Fortune India-500 conference in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, Naidu said that the proposed Bhemunipatnam-Kakinada beach road will be connected to the Kolkata-Chennai national highway passing through Visakhapatnam to encourage a series of marine based industries to set up shop along the coastal corridor.

“Our dream is that port-led development should become a logistic hub and gateway of India for other south eastern countries. Visakhapatnam and Krishnapatnam will play an important role in achieving our goal,” Naidu said.

He said the government will give priority to upgrading skills so that the youth could get employment in the marine based economy. The chief minister added that the government will develop Duggarajapatnam, Narsapuram, Ramayapatnam and Machilipatnam ports.