Logistics University put on backburner

Kakinada: The Logistics University, which was announced in 2017 with much fanfare, is still not become a reality even after two years of its announcement in 2019.The then director of AP state ports and nodal officer for Logistics University Dr Koya Praveen worked out the modalities for setting up of varsity in 2017 with top priority to shipping trade and industry in these parts.

With Visakhapatnam, the major port in the region, Kakinada, the leading minor port and other important ports like Krishnapatnam also in AP, the Logistic University is expected to fulfill the required technical needs in the form of trained force to cater manpower needs. Nodal officer Dr Praveen even went to the extent of starting the courses in a temporary accommodation in Ideal Institute of Technology (IIT) at Vidyut Nagar in Kakinada in the absence of permanent structures for establishing the university.

Some of the courses announced are degree in container transportation management, cargo handling and allied courses. This besides, certificate course in container transportation for fisherfolk in East Godavari to cater to the shipping and cargo handling.

The certificate course is said to improve the technical knowledge and skill of these sections as the fisher folk are generally employed in port-based activities.After setting up of Logistic University, there were plans to bring the same under the purview of JNTU-K for management needs.

Chairman of Pragati and Ideal Institute of Technology institutions, Paruchuri Krishna Rao said they have expressed willingness to let their premises till new buildings constructed for logistics taken up when the then nodal officer Koya Praveen approached us. After that nothing emerged in this way, Krishna Rao said.

First VC of JNTU-K Prof Allam Appa Rao when contacted on the need for logistics institutions, said that this is very important concept benefits particularly the shipping transport sector. Even we made attempts to include the logistics as one of the course in JNTU-K, but did not materialise then, the former VC said.

When contacted out going East Godavari collector and in-charge of state port director Karthikeya Mishra said that the concept may be a reality under the new government.