Union Minister opens ‘Promenade’ at Vizag port; lays foundation stone for ₹560 cr. projects

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal dedicated a waterfront ‘promenade’ at the Visakhapatnam Port to the public and laid foundation stones for four new projects. The port’s package of new works to about ₹560 crore.

He was accompanied by MP M Sribharat and other representatives. Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) chairman Jasmeet Singh Bindra, Deputy Chairperson K. Roshni Aparanji said that the Port Promenade was built at a cost of ₹19 crore.

It runs about 710 meters along the water and covers about 5.5 acres. The promenade has a waterfront walkway and two view decks, one a Titanic-style viewpoint, along with a park, a public plaza, a children’s play area, a food court and visitor parking.

It was built on existing port land without affecting cargo operations. Its location beside the cruise terminal is also meant to add to the terminal’s appeal for cruise passengers. Addressing the gathering, Mr Sonowal said that Visakhapatnam was blessed with a beautiful natural setting and had the potential to become a major economic and maritime hub.

He said the VPA had only begun its innings and that a bright future lay ahead for the port. Referring to the significant transformation in the maritime sector over the past 12 years in the country, Mr. Sonowal said Indian ports had witnessed considerable progress in port operations, turnaround time, workforce quality, technology, innovation, modernisation and digitisation.

The Ministry had been able to take forward several initiatives to strengthen the country’s maritime infrastructure, he said. Comparing the country’s economic position before and after 2014, he said that India had moved from a fragile economic situation to becoming the world’s third-largest economy under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said the government’s focus on infrastructure and economic development would further strengthen India’s global position. Earlier, Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat suggested that the port explore the possibility of establishing a good restaurant along the bay, on the lines of the experience offered at the Marina, to provide visitors with an opportunity to enjoy the city’s coastline and seafood.

He said several people had been expressing the need for more seafood outlets in the city. With the cruise terminal also being connected to the area, the proposed facility could benefit both cruise passengers arriving in the city and local visitors, he said.

Mr Sonowal also laid foundation stones for three contracts to operate and maintain existing cargo terminals, together worth about ₹580 crores. They cover the WQ-1 and WQ-1RE berths; WQ-2 and WQ-3; and EQ-3. He also laid the foundation stone for upgrading the port’s sewage treatment plant from 10 million litres a day to 15 million litres, including a new 5 million-liter plant, at an estimated cost of about ₹11 crores.

Mr. Sonowal said the port handled a record 91.17 million metric tons of cargo in the 2025-26 fiscal year, about 10% more than a year earlier and its fourth straight year of growth. From April 1 to Oct. 31, cargo rose by 4.44 million metric tons, or 8.88%, over the same period last year.

“You must beat the last year’s target of 10% growth,” Sonowal encouraged the port employees as he spoke and interacted with them. YSRCP Rajya Sabha MP Golla Babu Rao, Visakhapatnam South MLA Vamsi Krishna Srinivas, BJP MLA P.

Vishnu Kumar Raju were present.