AP Govt nod to build non-major port at Ramayapatnam
Amaravati: The State government cleared technical hurdles to construct the Ramayapatnam port in Prakasam district as non major port on Tuesday. While directing the Director of Ports, Kakinada, to meet the expenditure from the budget available with him, Ajay Jain, Principal Secretary, Infrastructure and Investments department, said that Ramayapatnam should be developed as a non-major port by the State government.
He said that the government amended the exclusive limits of Krishnapatnam Port after obtaining consent from M/s. Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd (KPCL). The government de-notified extended part of exclusive limits of Krishnapatnam Port.
Ajay Jain directed the Director of Ports to take up preparation of Detailed Project Report through qualified agencies. He also asked the Director of Ports to start other preparatory work required, to obtain all necessary clearances, various other studies required and the financial model to raise resources for the project.
In fact, this was one of the proposed major ports to be developed by the Central government during 2011. But, in the course of time, the Centre proposed that Dugarajapatnam Port would be developed as a major port in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.
The State government in 2015 appointed RITES company to prepare the Techno Economic Feasibility Report (TEFR) for establishment of non-major port at Ramayapatnam through Infrastructure Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (INCAP).
RITES submitted final TEFR on in 2017 and recommended that the establishment of port at Ramayapatnam is techno-economically viable. At the same time, RITES informed the government that the proposed Ramayapatnam Port falls within the exclusive limits of Krishnapatnam Port which was extended through G.O.Ms.No.40, dated:08-10-2008 and G.O.Ms.No.09, dated:27-02-2009.
Now the State government denotified the exclusive limits of Krishnapatnam port and gave approval for establishing non-major port at Ramayapatnam, through GO MS No.28 on Tuesday.