Emphasising the need for port led development in the state of Andhra Pradesh Mr K. Muralidharan, Director of Kakinada SEZ Limited (KSEZ) and Kakinada Gateway Port limited advocated for the combination of a port and industrial park led development model which he opined will create a sustainable ecosystem for industrial growth. 

This in turn will generate significant employment opportunities for the region, said Mr Muralidharan addressing stakeholders at the India Terminal Conference 2024, held in New Delhi recently. Elaborating further he informed of the new upcoming greenfield port in Kakinada district.

“Our company, Auro Infra, is developing a greenfield port, Kakinada Gateway Port, in Kakinada district. In addition to this, we have established a 5,600-acre industrial park that will attract port-based industries, unlocking new opportunities for economic development along the east coast” said the director.

Mr Muralidharan also spoke on the significant transformation in the country’s ports and shipping sector over the past couple of decades.

‘Over the past 20 to 25 years, we’ve witnessed remarkable transformations in the Indian port sector, from improvements in vessel load and discharge rates to advancements in mechanization and connectivity through enhanced rail and road networks’ cited Mr Muralidharan. 

He further highlighted the role of government initiatives in this progress, stating, “Policies like streamlined environmental clearances and efficient land acquisition processes have played a key role in accelerating the development of port infrastructure across the country.” 

Kakinada Gateway Port Limited and Kakinada SEZ Limited (KSEZ) were key participants in the India Terminal Conference 2024.