Visakhapatnam Port's ₹335-Crore Flyover Gets Green Light
In a move aimed at modernising one of India's key maritime gateways, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has approved a ₹334.89 crore internal flyover at Visakhapatnam Port Authority. The project is designed to streamline cargo evacuation, ease road congestion, and improve the overall flow of traffic within the port premises.
The approval, granted by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, follows an appraisal by the Delegated Investment Board, chaired by the Secretary of the ministry. This marks another step in the government's push to upgrade port infrastructure to global standards.
The proposed structure is a 3.584-kilometre elevated corridor connecting Convent Junction with the Dock Area. Its primary purpose is to separate road and rail traffic, which currently intersect at nine major railway level crossings within the port. These crossings witness about 18 gate closures daily due to the high volume of train movements, leading to significant delays for cargo-laden vehicles.
The frequent closures result in heavy congestion, longer wait times for trucks, increased fuel consumption, and higher operating costs for transport operators. This has long been a bottleneck, hampering the port's ability to quickly move goods from ships to their onward destinations. The elevated road corridor will allow vehicles to bypass these crossings, ensuring uninterrupted movement while reducing the risk of accidents at rail-road junctions.
“This project will remove a critical bottleneck at Visakhapatnam Port, enabling faster cargo movement and improve overall operational efficiency,” said Sonowal. “We are committed to building modern, seamless and globally competitive port infrastructure under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
The scope of work includes the construction of the flyover along with associated civil and electrical works, utility shifting, safety installations, and a five-year maintenance period. The execution plan has been designed to minimise disruption to ongoing port operations, particularly in critical dock areas where traffic is constant.
The project is scheduled for completion within 30 months from the date of commencement. Once operational, it is expected to significantly cut transit time for trucks within the port, improve the turnaround time for cargo evacuation, and reduce the environmental impact of idling vehicles.
Visakhapatnam Port, located on the east coast of India in Andhra Pradesh, is one of the country's 13 major ports. It handles a diverse range of cargo, including iron ore, coal, crude oil, and containerised goods, and serves as a crucial link for trade in the region. This investment aligns with the government's broader efforts to enhance the efficiency of Indian ports, including the Sagarmala programme, which focuses on port-led development.
In recent years, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has initiated several infrastructure upgrades across major ports, including modernisation of berths, deepening of channels, and construction of road and rail connectivity projects. The Visakhapatnam flyover is one such initiative intended to address immediate operational constraints while supporting future growth in cargo volumes.
While the project has been cleared at the ministry level, the next steps will involve detailed engineering, tendering, and award of contracts. The port authority is expected to take up the construction in a phased manner to ensure smooth execution without interrupting daily port activities.
The approval of the flyover signals continued government focus on improving logistics performance, which is essential for reducing the cost of trade and enhancing India's competitiveness in global markets. With this investment, Visakhapatnam Port is expected to strengthen its position as a reliable and efficient gateway for the region's maritime trade.
