VPA to invest `650 cr in 3 PPP projects

Visakhapatnam After engaging international consultants including Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) is implementing a series of measures to improve the techno-economic parameters and remove bottlenecks for faster evacuation of cargo and become a landlord port by operating its business in a totally mechanised environment through private partners.

The efforts by Team VPA over the past few years have started bearing fruit with the removal of a dirty port tag attached to it. VPA, which went into operations way back in 1933 transforming a tiny fishermen village into a growing metropolis, to be precise played a key role in making Visakhapatnam metamorphosed into the second largest industrial and financial hub of undivided Andhra Pradesh after Hyderabad. However, it had remained a bone of contention from the green activists for open handling of cargo like iron ore and coal.

To control dust emission from operations, VPA has deployed nine fog cannon machines round the clock. Three PPP berth mechanisation projects were awarded recently with an investment of Rs 650 crore. In FY24, VPA plans to invest Rs 337.69 crore towards developmental activities/projects, VPA Chairman Dr Madhajyaan Angamuthu said.

Following directives from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, the National Green Tribunal and several judicial institutes, VPA management also initiated the measures for massive mechanisation by awarding the works to private companies under the DBFOT route.

The port recently received the prestigious Greentech award for reducing trucking movement, strengthening mechanised evacuation system and establishing centralised stackyard with good rail and road connectivity. This led to appreciation from several overseas delegations including those which enquired about the existing facilities from the United States, the European Union, Australia, Canada and other parts. Increasing draft in the Inner Harbour has been attracting easy navigation of Panamax vessels with a DWT (deadweight tonnage of two lakhs).

VPA is one among 12 major ports in India retained fourth rank in 2022-23 by handling a cargo of 73.73 million tonnes compared to 69.03 million tonnes of previous year. The port earned an additional revenue of Rs 125 crore by leasing out 17 acres of inoperative land at Saligramapuram for 30 years.

The port has been maintaining harmony between port development and environmental protection. The Chairman said the port has taken up green initiatives actively contributing to the fulfillment of the ‘Panchamrit’ commitments announced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

Master plan

The port is preparing a master plan to be fully compliant with the ‘Harit Sagar’ Guidelines-2023 released by Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways aimed at achieving quantifiable reductions in carbon emissions by 2030.

VPA is already generating more renewable energy than its demand. The port has plans to develop another 15 MW through renewable energy sources. It has requested the Andhra Pradesh Government to arrange land to set up solar plants.

Port officials say they are planning to reduce the carbon emissions by utilisation of LNG/CNG/methanol/ethanol/ green hydrogen for port equipment and transporting vehicles. The port has tied up with IOC for a CNG bunkering facility with an investment of Rs 10 crore. VPA has started construction of four numbers of covered storage sheds to store bulk cargo with a capacity of 2,94,000 MT at a cost of Rs 116.04 crore. The work will be completed by March, 2024.

The port has 221 water sprinklers spread across eight cargo storage locations covering 100 acres for suppressing the dust from cargo stacks. A 10-MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is being operated by the port to treat the city municipal waste entering the port area. There is a plan to build another 5-MLD STP soon.

To keep the roads clean, a mechanical sweeping machine has been deployed and three more machines will be acquired during the current fiscal.

The port has invested Rs 2.3 crore and developed 80 hectares for green shelter under Green Visakha Plantation with AP State Forest Department. VPA says it developed a green belt in 630 acres with 5,65,000 plants in the port area. The port is investing Rs 20 crore every year for beach nourishment. The port also adopted one km stretch of RK Beach under the Swachh Sagar programme of AP government for cleaning the beaches.

Greening efforts

• 4 covered storage sheds under construction to store bulk cargo

• VPA has 221 water sprinklers spread across eight cargo storage locations

• A 10-MLD STP treating city municipal waste entering port area

• VPA has developed a green belt in 630 acres with 5.65

• VPA investing Rs 20 crore every year for beach nourishment