Andhra Pradesh's 1000km Coastline: A New Era of Maritime Growth

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced an ambitious maritime strategy to unlock the potential of the state’s 1,000-km coastline. The plan envisions the establishment of ports or fishing harbours every 50 km, aiming to drive economic growth, enhance infrastructure, and generate employment.

“We have unveiled a strategic plan to build a port-based economy by harnessing Andhra Pradesh’s 1,000-kilometre coastline,” CM Naidu stated in an official release. The initiative is expected to significantly strengthen Andhra Pradesh’s position as a key maritime hub in India.

As part of the central government’s post-bifurcation commitments, a shipbuilding and repair cluster is proposed at Dugarajapatnam in Nellore district. Spanning 2,000 acres, the project will allocate 1,000 acres for core shipbuilding operations and another 1,000 acres for supporting industries. Key infrastructure will include four dry docks, outfitting jetties, and a ship-lift facility.

The central government will invest approximately ₹3,500 crore in the project, while the state government will contribute land as equity. To attract global industry leaders, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) will be set up to manage the development.

The project is expected to draw ₹26,000 crore in total investments and generate 5,000 direct jobs, along with 30,000 indirect employment opportunities—marking a major step toward transforming Andhra Pradesh into a maritime powerhouse.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.