PNS|Vijayawada
The Andhra Pradesh government is ramping up efforts to promote water transport and tourism as part of its broader infrastructure and investment strategy, said BC Janardhan Reddy, Minister for Roads, Buildings, Investments and Infrastructure. He was speaking at the inauguration of a “Boat Marathon” held at Punnami Ghat to mark the second anniversary of the Andhra Pradesh Inland Waterways Authority (APIWA).
The Minister stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the state is integrating the activities of the Tourism and Inland Waterways Departments to attract large-scale investments and generate employment opportunities for youth. He highlighted that water transport is nearly 50 per cent more economical than road transport and can help decongest both road and rail networks.
With the second-longest coastline in the country, Andhra Pradesh also boats 1,555 km of navigable inland waterways, of which 900 km are declared as national waterways. These routes are expected to improve port connectivity and promote cruise tourism. The state is planning to implement key projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and establish a Regional Centre of Excellence for inland cruising.
Proposals seeking Rs 201.50 crore in funding have been submitted to the central government. Of this, Rs 153 crore is earmarked for Ro-Ro terminals and vehicle transport, while the remaining funds are intended for cruise vessels, dredgers, docking facilities and tourism infrastructure.
The government is also working to triple the current waterway network and tap into new economic opportunities.
Detailed reports on the potential of the Krishna and Godavari rivers, along with major canals, are being prepared for the Chief Minister’s review. The aim is to enable cost-effective and environmentally sustainable transport of both passengers and cargo, including coal and cement.
Officials from APIWA, APTDC, and the AP Maritime Board were also present at the event.
