Ramayapatnam Port set for operational debut in December

Heavy dredging vessels manoeuvring in the access channel, and construction crews working round-the-clock on breakwaters are driving the greenfield Ramayapatnam Port toward a December 2026 operational debut, with physical progress surging past 80%.

The accelerated pace stems from a high-level infrastructure review in late May, where Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu set strict, time-bound completion targets for major ports, airports, and fishing harbours.

By placing port development on an expedited track—similar to industrial projects mandated to launch within 18 months—the State has prioritised swift operationalisation across key execution agencies.

That momentum is backed by official status reports tabled in Parliament by Union Minister for Ports Sarbananda Sonowal and fresh disclosures from the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board (APMB), confirming that Phase-A of Ramayapatnam Port has reached 80.50% physical progress, and 73.95% financial execution against its Rs 4,929.39-crore sanctioned cost.

Outer breakwaters stand at 97.98% completion, berth construction has reached 95.35%, and access channel dredging has passed 68.73% toward initial draft targets. Crucial last-mile evacuation networks are moving in tandem to prevent freight bottlenecks.

A 5.5-km direct road link connecting the harbour complex to National Highway 16 has reached 95% completion and is eyed for a September commissioning.

Parallelly, a 7.4-km railway line connecting to Tettu station—having secured Railway approval for its Engineering Scale Plan—is 30% complete toward a synchronised December finish.

Port to handle Super Cape-size vessels up to 2L DWT & -20.2 m basin depth

Beyond the initial Phase-A buildout, the State has initiated an international bidding process to bring in a private operator on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) basis, unlocking an estimated Rs 20,000-crore investment opportunity over a 50-year horizon.

Spanning 2,538 acres across four development phases, the port’s master plan envisions expanding total cargo capacity from 34.04 MMTPA to 138.54 MMTPA across 19 planned berths. Engineered to handle Super Cape-size vessels up to 200,000 DWT with a maximum basin depth of -20.2 metres, Ramayapatnam is positioned to capture vast hinterland traffic across Telangana, eastern Maharashtra, and eastern Karnataka.

A dedicated liquid berth has been allocated to Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) for captive use, anchoring a proposed large-scale petroleum refinery adjacent to the port. Under the concession framework, the APMB will retain a 12% non-dilutable equity stake across all development phases.Ramayapatnam serves as the central anchor for a broader Rs 1,286-crore maritime buildout taking shape under the Sagarmala programme, supported by Rs 272 crore in sanctioned Central assistance.

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Key completed interventions include Visakhapatnam Port’s dedicated coastal berth (Rs 43 crore), an NHAI grade separator bypassing Convent Junction (Rs 60 crore), the Rs 288-crore Juvvaladinne Fishing Harbour in Nellore, and upgrades at Kakinada Anchorage Port costing Rs 85.83 crore.

Alongside brick-and-mortar builds, the Sagarmala skill ecosystem has placed 2,240 candidates from coastal districts into jobs through DDU-GKY programmes and the Rs 574-crore Centre of Excellence in Maritime and Shipbuilding (CEMS) in Visakhapatnam. District figures show Visakhapatnam leading with 2,161 placements, followed by East Godavari and Srikakulam.

Further north up the coast, parliamentary records confirm that the Kakinada SEZ Port has logged 32% physical progress toward a September 2028 operational target, with marine breakwaters (84%) and bulk berths (85%) well advanced. Coupled with the ongoing Rs 178.51-crore modernisation of the Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour, the coordinated push between Amaravati’s policy drive and New Delhi’s financial backing is re-anchoring AP’s position along the eastern seaboard.

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Low-pressure over Bay of Bengal intensifies

The authority also urged people to remain alert and follow weather-related advisories.

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Express News Service

Updated on: 

17 Aug 2026, 8:44 am

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VIJAYAWADA: The low-pressure area formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal areas of West Bengal and North Odisha has intensified into a well-marked low-pressure area and continues to persist. The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has predicted that the system is likely to move northwestwards during the next 24 hours and may further intensify into a depression.

Under its influence, gusty winds with speeds of 40 to 60 kmph are likely over the northwest and west-central Bay of Bengal and along the North Andhra coast until Tuesday. The sea is expected to remain rough with high waves. The APSDMA advised fishermen not to venture into the sea during this period. Those already at sea have been asked to return to the coast immediately. The authority also urged people to remain alert and follow weather-related advisories.

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On Monday, light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms is likely at isolated places in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Polavaram, Visakhapatnam, Eluru, Nellore and Tirupati districts. Light rain is likely at some places in Manyam, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Anakapalli, Kakinada, Konaseema, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Markapuram, Prakasam and Chittoor districts.

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Four youths die as car plunges into canal in AP

Four youths, aged 16 to 19, from West Godavari’s Penumantra mandal were identified as the victims in the incident.

The victims were travelling from Peravali to Mori after attending a function when the mishap occurred.

The victims were travelling from Peravali to Mori after attending a function when the mishap occurred.Photo | Express

Express News Service

Updated on: 

17 Aug 2026, 8:43 am

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RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM: Four youths died when a speeding car plunged into a canal near Aithampudi Locks in Iragavaram mandal of West Godavari district in the early hours of Sunday. The mishap occurred while the victims were going from Peravali in East Godavari district to Mori in Malikipuram mandal of Konaseema district after attending a function.

The deceased were identified as Pothula Lakshmi Bhanu Vikas (18), Naga Reddy Dushyanth Sai (18), and Cherukuri Rajaram Charan (16) of Mori, and Naga Batthula Surya (19) of Satyavaram in Penumantra mandal of West Godavari district. One occupant of the car managed to escape. Having learnt about the incident, police teams rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations.

The bodies of all the four victims were retrieved from the canal. The bodies were shifted to Tanuku government hospital for postmortem. Iragavaram police have registered a case.

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AP railway engineer caught accepting Rs 15 lakh bribe

The joint venture had claimed a bonus of around Rs 7 crore for completing the work ahead of schedule.

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Express News Service

Updated on: 

17 Aug 2026, 8:42 am

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VIJAYAWADA: CBI sleuths on Sunday arrested a senior section engineer of South Central Railway while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 15 lakh from a contractor in Vijayawada. The arrested official was identified as Bapiraju, senior section engineer in the office of the Chief Signal and Telecommunications Engineer (CSTE) Projects, South Central Railway, Vijayawada.

A private person identified as Srichand was also arrested. The CBI registered a case on August 16 against the engineer, four representatives of private companies, and unidentified public servants and private persons in connection with an alleged demand for bribe. According to a CBI official release, a joint venture of two private companies were awarded an Automatic Block Signalling project worth Rs 179.50 crore by South Central Railway.

The joint venture had claimed a bonus of around Rs 7 crore for completing the work ahead of schedule. The agency alleged that officials of CSTE Projects had manipulated dates in the bonus file to extend undue favour to the joint venture and facilitate approval of its claim.

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AP govt takes steps to minimise stir impact

Senior residents and DRPs have been relieved to report at medical colleges, while doctors on leave or absent without authorisation have been ordered back to duty.

Director of Secondary Health KVN Chakradhar Babu

Director of Secondary Health KVN Chakradhar BabuFile Photo

Express News Service

Updated on: 

17 Aug 2026, 8:41 am

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VIJAYAWADA: In response to the ongoing APJUDA strike, the government has intensified measures to ensure uninterrupted medical services across the State. Director of Secondary Health KVN Chakradhar Babu directed all District Coordinators of Hospital Services (DCHS) to prioritise emergency care, minimise unnecessary referrals, and redeploy available manpower.

Senior residents and DRPs have been relieved to report at medical colleges, while doctors on leave or absent without authorisation have been ordered back to duty. Lists of CASGE and DCSGE doctors are being prepared for temporary deputation to general and teaching hospitals, and PHC second medical officers are also being mobilised. To further strengthen services, Director of Medical Education A Vishnuvardhan has requested private medical colleges to temporarily depute doctors to government hospitals.

Assistant professors in paediatrics, anesthesiology, general medicine, orthopaedics, and obstetrics & gynaecology, along with DRP postgraduate residents, are to be sent to nearby teaching hospitals. He clarified that PG residents should only work under supervision and not be assigned independent responsibilities.

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