Maharashtra Studies Andhra Pradesh's Greenfield Port Model as Coastal States Weigh Cooperation

Maharashtra's Minister of Fisheries and Ports, Nitesh Rane, met Andhra Pradesh's Minister for Roads and Buildings, and Infrastructure and Investments, B.C. Janardhan Reddy, at the State Secretariat on Thursday for wide-ranging discussions on greenfield ports, fishing harbours, shipbuilding and logistics.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr. Reddy said the Andhra Pradesh government was pursuing a comprehensive plan to develop the State as a maritime, port and logistics hub, alongside efforts to strengthen the fisheries sector.

He said a capital expenditure of about ₹4,500 crore was being incurred on the construction of each greenfield port. Such ports, he noted, carry particular significance for export-import trade from landlocked States such as Telangana and Chhattisgarh, which depend on coastal States for access to shipping routes.

The Minister said approval had been granted for the Vijayawada–Amaravati Water Metro project, and that the Central government had identified nine locations in Andhra Pradesh as suitable for seaplane services.

Mr. Reddy added that the State government was requesting the Centre to allocate approximately 20,000 acres of salt land along the coastline to the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board (APMB), so that it could be readily made available for future maritime infrastructure development.

C.V. Praveen Adhithya, Chief Executive Officer of the APMB, briefed Mr. Rane on the steps being taken by the State government to develop ports and strengthen the logistics sector.

Mr. Rane appreciated the development of three greenfield ports in Andhra Pradesh under the landlord model, in which a port authority or government body owns the land and basic infrastructure while private operators run the terminals. He described the approach as one worth emulating by other coastal States.

Both Ministers were of the view that States with long coastlines which are at the forefront of port-led development — including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh — hold substantial opportunities in the maritime sector if they share ideas and policies and move forward together.

Also present at the meeting were Maharashtra Maritime Board CEO P. Pradeep, Chief Port Officer Praveen Khara and Executive Engineer Manish Metkar, along with APMB Chief Engineer G. Veera Raghava Rao.

The discussion reflects a broader push by coastal States to coordinate on port infrastructure, an area where India's capacity has expanded steadily over the past decade. Greenfield ports — built on undeveloped sites rather than by expanding existing facilities — require large upfront investment in land, dredging, connectivity and utilities before they can handle cargo.

Analysts note that the viability of such projects depends on assured cargo volumes, road and rail links to the hinterland, and clear agreements on how risks and revenue are shared between government bodies and private operators. For landlocked States, the cost and reliability of moving goods to a port can matter as much as the port's own capacity.

Fisheries infrastructure, including fishing harbours, was also on the agenda. Coastal States have been expanding harbour facilities to improve safety, cold-chain storage and landing conditions for fishing communities, though several such projects have faced delays in execution.

No agreements or memoranda were announced following Thursday's meeting. Officials described the interaction as an exchange of ideas on policy and project experience, with the possibility of further coordination among coastal States in the maritime sector.