VPA-NHAI unveils ₹1,054-cr road for quicker cargo evacuation

To ensure faster evacuation of cargo and make it convenient for trans-shipment to Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong and other major hubs, Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) together with NHAI is developing road projects worth ₹1,054 crore. Under Bharatmala, VPA & NHAI are developing road projects to decongest the roads and improve the last mile connectivity in the port sector. This will ensure hassle-free delivery of goods for which VPA has already spent an amount of ₹237 crore as capital expenditure. From this financial year, the port has planned to spend about ₹208 crore on the capital works for infrastructure development. With the completion of these projects, the port capacity will go up to 146 MTPA from the current 127 MTPA. VPA is taking various measures for improving the environmental management at the port adding they are planning to reduce its carbon footprint to 'zero' in the coming years. The authority has already drawn a master plan for improving the drainage system and upgrading the stockyards with an investment of about ₹60 crore.