Shantanu Thakur reviews operations and developments at Visakhapatnam Port

During an official visit, Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, held an interactive meeting with important port stakeholders and assessed the status of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects carried out by Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA).

In keeping with its position as a strategic port in Andhra Pradesh, a state endowed with a lengthy coastline, the Minister praised the teamwork and developmental efforts of VPA and urged the Port Authority to investigate prospects in shipbuilding, ship repair, ship recycling, and cruise tourism. The Minister called a review meeting, and Dr. M. Angamuthu, IAS, the chairperson of VPA, gave a thorough presentation outlining the infrastructure facilities, key performance indicators, rail and road connectivity, modernization efforts, green initiatives such as solar energy and plantation projects, upgrading the fishing harbor, and dust suppression system implementation.

The Minister was also briefed on the Port Authority’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) information technology (IT) projects and community outreach activities, which include skill development, educational programs for tribal youth, and placement assistance in reputable organizations. In order to support the Prime Minister’s goal of making India pollution-free, the minister encouraged the stakeholders to look into every option for implementing green ideas in both the front-end and back-end of operations.

The Chairperson assured the Minister that his suggestions would be taken forward for the overall growth and development of the Port. The Minister was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour upon his arrival. He visited various operational areas of the Port. The Minister also visited Dredging Corporation of India Ltd and reviewed the projects being taken up in DCI. During his visit to the Centre of Excellence in Maritime & Ship Building, the Minister distributed Course Completion Certificates and Placement Certificates to 60 Tribal Youths of Alluri Seetharamaraju District in the field of Arc Welding and Inventory Clerk as a part of CSR initiative under Skill Development Programme sponsored by Visakhapatnam Port Authority.