VISAKHAPATNAM : With emphasis on port-led economy, the State Government is expected to finalise the developer for the Bhavanapadu Port in the next couple of months. According to port department sources, the financial bids for the project are expected to be opened by the end of February following which the developers for the port will be finalised by the AP Government.
While north coastal AP already has one Major Port - Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) and one Minor Port -Gangavaram Port Limited (GPL) - operating from Vizag as of now, Bhavanapadu Port will be the first port in Srikakulam.
"The Chief Minister is very keen on beginning work on development of the Bhavanapadu Port this year itself. The land acquisition and finalisation of the bidder for the project will be completed in the next couple of months and work on the ground should start by the middle of this year even if some delays crop up," said a senior AP Government official.
Meanwhile, another ports department official said, "We have called for financial bids and they will be opened on February 10."
As per the plans of the State Government, the aim is to develop five berths in the phase one, eight berths in the phase two and 14 berths in phase three under a private-public partnership model.
Source: dailyshippingtimes.com
