NEW DELHI — In a major push toward upgrading India’s maritime infrastructure, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has approved a Rs 334.89-crore internal flyover project at the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA). The initiative aims to streamline freight movement, decongest port roads, and significantly reduce logistics lead times.
The centerpiece of the infrastructure package is a 3.584-kilometer elevated corridor designed to link Convent Junction directly with the core Dock Area. Once operational, the elevated road will effectively segregate heavy vehicular movement from internal railway traffic, addressing one of the port’s most persistent operational bottlenecks.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the project, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal noted that the flyover would remove critical physical barriers within the port ecosystem, enabling swift cargo evacuation and elevating overall operational throughput.
At present, internal freight traffic suffers severe disruptions due to nine major railway level crossings within the port precinct. Driven by intense shunting and train exchange schedules, these crossings experience approximately 18 gate closures every day. The recurring blockades trigger long vehicular queues, ballooning idle time, driving up fuel consumption, and inflating operational expenditures for fleet operators and port users alike.
By transferring freight traffic onto an elevated plane, the project will decouple road transport from railway movements, ensuring uninterrupted logistics cycles.
Beyond civil construction, the approved outlay encompasses extensive electrical infrastructure, utility relocation, modern safety systems, and a comprehensive five-year post-construction maintenance clause. Officials emphasized that work on the elevated corridor will be strategically phased to prevent disruptions to ongoing dock and container terminal operations.
The project is slated for completion within 30 months from the date of commencement.