Long-pending dream gets fillip, YS Jagan launches Machilipatnam deep water port works

MACHILIPATNAM: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy formally launched the Rs 5,156 crore Machilipatnam Port works, unveiling the pylon and performing special puja at the sea on Monday, May 22, 2023. The construction of the port, with an initial cargo capacity of 35 million tonnes, will be completed in two years.

Addressing a public meeting after launching the port works, the Chief Minister said that the capacity of the four-berth deep water port would be increased to 116 million tonnes as the cargo traffic would increase gradually.

The Chief Minister said that the state government had already completed land acquisition, finalized the tender process and completed financial closure besides obtaining all permissions by resolving legal hurdles created by former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for ‘selfish reasons’.

The port would help Machilipatnam grow on the lines of port cities like Mumbai and Chennai as it would be connected with the national Highway 216 and Gudivada–Machilipatnam railway line soon, YS Jagan said, adding that the port would change the face of Krishna district.

The Chief Minister exuded the confidence that Machilipatnam would soon be known for trade, commerce and industrial growth as Telangana and Chattisgarh also would make use of the port. This would result in the growth of ancillary industries creating direct and indirect livelihood for lakhs of people over some time, he said.

“In the next 24 months, you can see big ships anchoring in the Machilipatnam sea waters,” he said, thanking the farmers who had given land for the construction of the port. In all, 4,000 acres of government land would be gradually linked to the port being built in an area of 242 acres given by the farmers, he said.

The Chief Minister said that admissions would commence by August or September this year at the new medical college in Machilipatnam which is being constructed at a cost of Rs 550 crore. The medical college and the teaching hospital would cater to the medical and health needs of the people of Pedana, Avanigadda and Kaikaluru, he informed.

“The Government is building four new sea ports including the Machilipatnam Port at a total cost of over Rs 16,000 crore, 10 fishing harbours and six fish landing centres with an expenditure of Rs 3,700 crore besides six new airports,” YS Jagan said. He further said that the Machilipatnam fishing harbour would be completed in the next four months and would help the local fishermen grow financially.

The Chief Minister added that 25,000 new jobs would be created at each port and fishing harbours and fish land centres would help the fishermen improve their lives financially. He reminded the people that he kept the promise by reducing the power tariff for imitation jewelers based in Machilipatnam.

Responding to the appeal of local MLA Perni Venkataramaiahaka Perni Nani the Chief Minister sanctioned Rs 25 crore for Road-over-Bridge at Medical College, Rs 3 crore for the construction of six community halls and Rs 5 crore for repairs of Ambedkar Bhavan.

YSRCP MP V Balashowry, MLA Perni Nani and District Collector P Raja Babu also addressed the gathering.