"Transforming Andhra Pradesh with more than Rs 7,000 crore investment," says Minister Sonowal on Sagarmala Project

The Minister was asked to confirm receiving 90 project proposals from the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Visakhapatnam Port Trust under the Sagarmala Project. These proposals included detailed information such as the estimated cost, expected completion timeframe, execution details, and the steps taken by the government. Additionally, information on the budget allocation for each of these projects for the financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25 was sought.

In his reply, Sonowal informed the Lower House that the Ministry has received 29 new proposals from the Government of Andhra Pradesh, worth approximately Rs 3,300 crore. These proposals cover various projects, including port development, coastal berths, and fish landing centres.

The Union Minister highlighted that 13 projects in Andhra Pradesh, valued at around Rs 2,500 crore, are currently receiving financial assistance under the Sagarmala Scheme. These projects include Ro-Pax and passenger jetties, fishing harbours, port modernization, and skill development. The Ministry has already sanctioned Rs 450 crore for the development of these projects.

"Additionally, the Visakhapatnam Port Authority and IWAI have undertaken 36 projects in Andhra Pradesh, with a combined investment of Rs 4,600 crore. Among these, 22 projects worth Rs 2,530 crore have been completed, while 14 projects worth Rs 2,070 crore are in various stages of implementation. A state-of-the-art international cruise terminal at Visakhapatnam Port has been built to cater to the needs of passengers from around the world," he added.

Projects with high social impact but low or no return on investment are being provided financial assistance under the Sagarmala Scheme. Out of the 29 new proposals, the Ministry has partially funded four projects worth Rs 1,200 crore. For projects related to the development of Bhavanapadu Port, Ramayapatnam Port, and Machilipatnam Port, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has been requested to restructure the projects and explore the possibility of funding under Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment under PM GatiShakti. Projects related to Coastal Berths and Fish Landing Centres (FLCs) have also been forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for necessary approvals.

Sarbananda Sonowal emphasised that the Sagarmala Programme is a flagship initiative aimed at transforming the maritime sector and leveraging the country's extensive coastline and navigable waterways for port-led development. Funding for these projects is provided through a mix of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), equity participation, and grant-in-aid assistance, ensuring there are no financial constraints from the government's side.

Sonowal also mentioned the establishment of two Centres of Excellence in Maritime and Shipbuilding (CEMS) in Mumbai and Visakhapatnam. The Visakhapatnam centre, the first of its kind in Asia, has equipped over 10,000 students with engineering and technical skills.

"Apart from this, recently MoPSW approved the Visakhapatnam Port Authority's (VPA) project proposal to upgrade the existing 80-bedded Golden Jubilee Hospital to a 300-bedded Multi-Disciplinary Super Specialty Hospital through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode. This ambitious project has an estimated total cost of Rs 222.43 crore. The project is expected to rationalise the annual medical expenditure incurred on the treatment of VPA employees and generate employment opportunities for medical, paramedical, and other staff," he added.

Sonowal further noted, "In the last decade, the nation's port capacity stood at ~2,500+ MTPA in 2022-23, an 86 per cent increase from 2014-15, and the cargo handling capacity at Major Ports has doubled."

This comprehensive update highlights the government's commitment to enhancing maritime infrastructure and promoting coastal community development through the Sagarmala Programme. (ANI)