Senior representatives of Visakhapatnam and Gangavaram Ports, Shipping and logistics industry representatives, customs and clearance agents, transport association representatives, senior NHAI officials, and others attended the meeting.
The BJP MP GVL Narasimha Rao took the initiative of developing 24/7 Highway Connectivity for Ports, Industrial parks, and SEZs. He discussed with Industry and trade organizations related to port activities about infrastructure bottlenecks, stoppage of heavy vehicles, and immediate and long-term solutions for seamless connectivity to the port.
Sravan Shipping MD G Samba Siva Rao said that there should be no stoppage of cargo and highlighted the immediate need for expansion of road infrastructure in the two phases under PM Gati Shakti for a long-term solution. While the Chairman of AP Chambers Visakhapatnam Zone, KRB Prakash, informed non-availability of sufficient rakes is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately.
Industry representatives informed that the lack of seamless 24/7 connectivity of the Visakhapatnam and Gangavaram Ports has created serious problems for trade and industry, seriously hampering business and the Visakhapatnam economy.
The MP GVL and NHAI Project Director Prabhat Ranjan mentioned that various national highway projects have already been sanctioned by the Government of India for improved port connectivity. This includes a 10 km long 12-lane National Highway with 4 kilometers elevated corridor from Convent Junction to be completed in 18 months at a cost of Rs.800 crore.
They said a Greenfield National Highway of 12.5 km at a cost of Rs. 1,000 crores will be commissioned soon. In addition, three flyovers are planned on old National Highway 16 (NH 16) from Sheelanagar to Anakapalli over a stretch of 21 km to ease traffic flow.
The participants suggested some new projects including an elevated corridor for improved connectivity between Sheelanagar and Gajuwaka and better connectivity for Gangavaram Port to the new national highway stretch at Anakapalli.
Narasimha Rao asked the NHAI officials to examine the proposed highways and promised to discuss with the state and central governments to pursue the proposed new projects. He asserted that the present and planned projects will improve port connectivity and lower logistics costs in Visakhapatnam.
