INDIA —The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has inaugurated a 190 million Indian rupees public waterfront promenade and laid foundation stones for four maritime infrastructure projects at the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA). The broader package of new works represents approximately 5.6 billion Indian rupees in capital commitments, anchored by three operation and maintenance contracts valued at 5.8 billion Indian rupees to modernize cargo berths WQ-1, WQ-1RE, WQ-2, WQ-3, and EQ-3.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) is the central government ministry responsible for formulating national maritime policies and developing port and inland waterway infrastructure across India. The Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) is an autonomous statutory body under the central government that operates one of India's major eastern deep-water seaports.
The newly inaugurated 710-meter promenade spans 5.5 acres beside the International Cruise Terminal, expanding public maritime access without disrupting cargo operations. Concurrently, the three berth mechanization contracts mandate the deployment of modern cranes, automated conveyors, and environmental controls, generating an estimated 500 local employment roles. Additional initiatives include a 110 million Indian rupees expansion of the port's sewage treatment plant from 10 million to 15 million liters per day to support dust suppression under the Harit Sagar green port initiative, alongside four ongoing Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects valued at 8 billion Indian rupees scheduled for commissioning by 2027.
These investments align with the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA)'s structural transition toward a landlord-port model following a record cargo throughput of 91.17 million metric tons in the 2025-26 fiscal year. For maritime logistics operators, shipping lines, and port infrastructure developers, accelerated berth mechanization and 16-meter deep-draft container capacity reduce vessel turnaround times, lower supply chain costs, and strengthen trade resilience along India's eastern seaboard.
