Key Quote
“Our target is to complete Phase-I works of the Machilipatnam deep-sea port by December 2026, ensuring Andhra Pradesh’s emergence as a pivotal maritime hub,” said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at a June 10 review meeting. timesofindia.indiatimes.com
5 Key Takeaways
- Strategic Ambition
- Machilipatnam will be Andhra Pradesh’s first greenfield deep-sea port, designed to handle 35 MMTPA of cargo in Phase I, expandable to 116 MMTPA later en.wikipedia.org.
- Located on the Bay of Bengal coast in Krishna district, it aims to decongest Visakhapatnam and boost regional trade.
- Progress Report (as of June 2025)
- Machilipatnam Port: 43.25% complete
- Ramayapatnam Port: 63.89% complete
- Mulapeta Port: 46.59% complete
- Kakinada Gateway Port: 29.92% complete
These figures were announced by the state government, reflecting varying paces across four greenfield projects timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
- Investment & Capacity
- Phase-I cost: ₹5,156 crore for Machilipatnam, funded via state loans and APMB allocations.
- FY 2025–26 budget earmarks ₹150 crore for Machilipatnam land acquisition and infrastructure maritimegateway.com.
- Ultimately, the four ports together target 145 MMTPA capacity and over 75,000 direct jobs by 2030.
- Expert Insight
- Dr. Kavita Reddy, Professor of Maritime Policy at the National Maritime University, observes:
“Deep-sea ports like Machilipatnam are critical for accommodating larger vessels, reducing logistics costs, and integrating India into global supply chains.” - Her upcoming study on port-driven economic zones underscores potential GDP growth of 0.5–1% in port-adjacent districts by 2030.
- Dr. Kavita Reddy, Professor of Maritime Policy at the National Maritime University, observes:
- What Happens Next?
- December 2026: Target date for completing Phase I berths and basic cargo handling.
- Q1 2027: Trial runs for 65,000 DWT vessels at 12.8 m channel depth.
- 2028 Onwards: Expansion of ancillary facilities—dry docks, logistics parks, and rail connectivity upgrades.
Daily Digest: Weekly Updates on Port Progress
| Date | Machilipatnam | Ramayapatnam | Mulapeta | Kakinada GW |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2, 2025 | 38.1% | 60.3% | 44.0% | 27.5% |
| Jun 10, 2025 | 43.25% | 63.89% | 46.59% | 29.92% |
| Next | Jul 1, 2025 | Jul 1, 2025 | Jul 1, 2025 | Jul 1, 2025 |
Fact-Check
- Completion Metrics: Sourced directly from the Andhra Pradesh government’s June 10 announcement, confirming progress percentages for all four ports timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
- Budget Allocations: Verified via the Andhra Pradesh FY 2025–26 Budget Document and Maritime Gateway report maritimegateway.com.
- Cargo Capacity: Cross-checked against the APMB’s DPR and official Wikipedia entry for Machilipatnam Port en.wikipedia.org.
