Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) is marking its 93rd Foundation Day on October 7, as the port reports record cargo volumes and ongoing investments in infrastructure, technology and sustainability.
The port began operations in 1933, when the passenger vessel S.S. Jaladurga became the first vessel to arrive at Visakhapatnam after the port was opened to ocean traffic.
VPA handled a record 91.17 million tonnes (MMT) of cargo in 2025-26, compared with 0.13 MMT during its first year of operations.
During April-September 2026, the port handled 46.14 MMT, representing a 7% increase from the corresponding period of the previous year.
₹615 Crore Infrastructure Programme
VPA is currently implementing infrastructure projects with a combined investment of around ₹615 crore.
One of the major projects is a ₹334.89-crore internal flyover system designed to eliminate nine railway level crossings within the port area. The project is aimed at improving internal connectivity and reducing potential disruptions to cargo movement.
Additional berth mechanisation and operation-and-maintenance projects, with a combined value of around ₹400 crore, are scheduled for commissioning by March 2027.
Focus on Digitalisation and Sustainability
The port is also expanding its energy and environmental infrastructure. Its solar power capacity is being increased from 10 MW to 30 MW, while the sewage treatment plant is being upgraded to a capacity of 15 million litres per day (MLD).
VPA maintains around 1,070 acres of green cover within its operational area.
On the technology side, the port is deploying digital systems including RFID-based gate management and port-operation software to support cargo movement and operational processes.
VPA also operates deep-draft container facilities capable of handling vessels up to 390 metres long, with a permissible draft of up to 16 metres.
The combination of cargo growth, infrastructure development and digital systems is part of VPA’s ongoing efforts to expand its handling capacity and improve logistics operations on India’s eastern coast.
