The Union government will extend full support for the development of a world-class shipping cluster at Dugarajapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced.
Speaking to the media on board the Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) Shivalik, Sonowal said the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed Dugarajapatnam cluster is nearing completion. “The Centre is committed to supporting Andhra Pradesh’s maritime ambitions,” he said, adding that he had discussed the project with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on multiple occasions.
state’sThe Andhra Pradesh government has proposed to develop the cluster across 2,000 acres with an envisaged investment of ₹26,000 crore, including a ₹3,000-crore ship-breaking and recycling facility. The project, for which feasibility studies were carried out by the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA), is expected to generate about 5,000 direct and 30,000 indirect jobs. It forms a key part of the state’s “port every 50 km” vision to drive port-led economic growth.
The minister was speaking after flagging off the maiden voyage of SCI’s VLGC Shivalik, which recently joined the fleet under the Indian flag. The 82,000-cubic-metre LPG carrier, acquired by the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), departed with cargo from Qatar and will deliver at Visakhapatnam and Haldia ports.
Sonowal described the induction of Shivalik as a “significant milestone” in India’s maritime growth story, enhancing the country’s gas logistics capability and reinforcing the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in energy and shipping.
Vizag MP M. Sri Bharat, Visakhapatnam South MLA Vamsi Krishna Srinivas Yadav, and Capt. Bhaskar Tandon, Master Mariner of Shivalik, were among those present.
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