Visakhapatnam Port Promenade: Rs 560 Crore Package of New Projects, Record 91.17 Million Tonnes of Cargo

News reference: The Hindu and ANI, 11 November 2026 | Published: 12 November 2026
Prelims: infrastructure and transport - ports, shipping, PPP models (GS-III)

Original symbolic image of the Visakhapatnam Port Promenade — Original symbolic image: pcsmantra.com

Why in the News

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal dedicated the waterfront 'Promenade' at Visakhapatnam Port to the public on 11 November 2026 and laid foundation stones for four new projects, taking the port's package of new works to about Rs 560 crore.

Port Promenade: Key Features

Cost about Rs 19 crore; length about 710 metres - from the Venkateswara Temple to the International Cruise Terminal; area about 5.5 acres.
Waterfront walkway, two viewing decks (one a Titanic-style viewpoint), a park, a public plaza, a children's play area, a food court and visitor parking.
Built on existing port land without affecting cargo operations; for the first time residents get a regulated, safe place to watch ships and port activities.
Its location beside the cruise terminal is also meant to add to the terminal's appeal for cruise passengers.

Other Projects Launched

Three contracts to operate and maintain existing cargo terminals - the WQ-1 and WQ-1RE berths; WQ-2 and WQ-3; and EQ-3 - together worth about Rs 580 crore; mechanisation with cranes and conveyors and environmental controls are mandatory; about 500 local people are expected to get jobs.
The port's sewage treatment capacity will be raised from 10 million litres a day to 15 million litres (a new 5 MLD plant) at an estimated cost of about Rs 11 crore; the treated water will be used for dust suppression, road wetting and sprinkling at stockpile yards - in line with the ministry's 'Harit Sagar' green port initiative.

Record Cargo and Future Plans

In FY 2025-26 the port handled a record 91.17 million metric tonnes of cargo - about 10% more than the previous year and its fourth consecutive year of growth.
Between 1 April and 31 October 2026, cargo rose by 4.44 million metric tonnes (8.88%) over the same period last year.
Four PPP projects worth about Rs 800 crore are under construction and expected to be commissioned by 2027; with a permissible draft of 16 metres the port has one of the deepest container terminals among India's major ports and is moving to a landlord-port model.
The launch came just ahead of the 31st CII Partnership Summit-2026, hosted by the Andhra Pradesh government in Visakhapatnam on 12-13 November (theme: 'Navigating New World Order: Trade, Technology, Trust').

Distinctions for the Exam

Remember these facts separately: promenade cost Rs 19 crore, length 710 metres (Venkateswara Temple to the International Cruise Terminal), the new-works package of about Rs 560 crore, three O&M contracts of about Rs 580 crore (WQ-1/WQ-1RE, WQ-2/WQ-3, EQ-3), sewage capacity 10 to 15 MLD, record 91.17 million metric tonnes of cargo in FY 2025-26, the 16-metre draft and the 'Harit Sagar' initiative. The minister (Sarbananda Sonowal) and the ministry (Ports, Shipping and Waterways) can also be asked.

Prelims Practice Questions

Question 1: With reference to the Visakhapatnam Port Promenade, consider the following statements:

I. It is about 710 metres long and runs from the Venkateswara Temple to the International Cruise Terminal.

II. It cost about Rs 19 crore to build.

III. Cargo operations at the port had to be suspended to build it.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) I and II only

(b) II and III only

(d) I, II and III

Answer and Explanation

Answer: (a)

Statement I is correct: the promenade is about 710 metres long and spread over about 5.5 acres.
Statement II is correct: it cost about Rs 19 crore.
Statement III is incorrect: it was built on existing port land and cargo operations were not affected.

Question 2: How much record cargo did Visakhapatnam Port handle in FY 2025-26?

(a) 81.17 million metric tonnes

(b) 91.17 million metric tonnes

(d) 99.17 million metric tonnes

Answer and Explanation

Answer: (b)

Visakhapatnam Port handled a record 91.17 million metric tonnes of cargo in FY 2025-26 - about 10% more than the previous year and its fourth consecutive year of growth.

Syllabus mapping:
Prelims: infrastructure and transport - ports, shipping, PPP models (GS-III)

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Sources

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