The Visakhapatnam Port Trust has proposed to partner the State Government and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in taking up the six-laning of NH-16 from Anakapalle to Anandapuram in a joint venture, Port Chairman MT Krishna Babu announced in his Independence Day address here on Friday.
Speaking after reviewing a parade of the CISF, Fire Services Unit and NCC cadets of Junior College, he said that to improve road connectivity, the VPT had taken up two road projects in a joint venture with NHAI – four-laning of existing two-lane Port Connectivity Road and the six-laning of the NH-16 as these projects were useful both to public and the VPT.
In line with the view of the Centre that the stakeholders participate in such projects, the VPT had proposed to partner the State and NHAI in it and it was in DPR stage, Mr Krishna Babu said.
Emphasizing the commitment of the port to address the environmental issues and reduce the pollution in the port city, he said the ongoing mechanisation projects in the port would ensure that more than 90 per cent of the cargo handling operations would be completely mechanised. With this the port would not only be able to handle higher volumes with enhanced efficiency but also provide a long-lasting solution to the environmental problems, he said in his speech.
Mr Krishna Babu thanked importers and exporters, stevedoring companies, steamship agents and clearing and forwarding agents for their contributions and also thanked trustees and Union leaders for facilitating a healthy industrial environment.
VPT Deputy Chairman GVL Satya Kumar, Chief Vigilance Officer Mujib Pasha Shaik, trustees of VPT, department heads, officers, employees, CISF personnel and retired officials of VPT and Cargo Handling Division were present.
