Visakhapatnam known for its unique spoon-shaped topography surrounded by hill ranges on three sides and Bay of Bengal on the other, the picturesque beachfront area in North Andhra will soon become a hub for leisure tourists with the Visakhapatnam Port Trust finalising a blueprint to construct an international cruise terminal.
While Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune, has submitted favourable reports on shoreline and navigational studies, IIT-Madras will submit its final report by month-end.
In the draft report, the IIT experts found the proposal viable.
The international cruise terminal with ability to receive 300-metre length overall (LOA) vessels carrying 1,500 passengers will be developed between Visakha Container Terminal and entry channel without affecting the bulk storage area. It is not yet decided whether to develop a calling on cruise, where the luxury ships reach early in the day and leave late in the evening or hub port like the one in Singapore where cruise liners have the facility for halt for a few days.
Tie-up with APTDC
“We want to develop the terminal, the first of its kind in the east coast, at a cost of ₹80 crore out of which half will be mobilised from our internal accruals,” VPT Chairman M.T. Krishna Babu has told The Hindu. The Ministry of Tourism has decided in principle to sanction the remaining ₹40 crore. Required draft for the terminal is available in both inner and outer harbours.
VPT has plans to tie up with AP Tourism Development Corporation to facilitate the passengers to visit Buddhist circuit or enjoy spiritual tourism, adventure or nature tourism or wellness tourism.
The port developed slipway jetty near the Fishing Harbour during International Fleet Review in 2016 to allow landing of various ships at a cost of ₹5 crore. The 102-m facility was also used for the Vizag Yachting Festival held in March.
At present, India has international terminals in Mumbai, Kochi, Goa, Chennai and New Mangalore.
Mumbai is constructing a high-end terminal qualified to be called airport terminal at a cost of ₹300 crore. The funds are being released under Sagarmala and Ministry of Tourism, according to sources.
