In a significant update, Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal has informed that the construction of the Machilipatnam Port in Andhra Pradesh which officially began on April 21, 2023, is projected for completion by October 2025. This is a non-major port under the administrative control of the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Although it is not included under the central government’s Sagarmala Scheme, the development of the port is supported by a significant term loan of ₹3,940.42 crores sanctioned by the Power Finance Corporation (PFC) to the Machilipatnam Port Development Corporation Limited (MPDCL), a subsidiary of the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board (APMB).
Coming to waterways development in the state, The Visakhapatnam Port Authority and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) have undertaken 36 projects in Andhra Pradesh, totaling ₹4,600 crores. Of these, 22 projects worth approximately ₹2,530 crores have been completed, while 14 projects, valued at ₹2,070 crores, are in various stages of implementation.
