New waterfront promenade opens to the public

Visakhapatnam Port has opened a new waterfront promenade, giving residents and tourists an opportunity to experience the harbour and watch ship movements from a designated public space.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal dedicated the facility to the public on November 11, 2026. The promenade stretches approximately 710 metres from the Venkateswara Temple towards the International Cruise Terminal and covers around 5.5 acres.

Developed at an estimated cost of ₹19 crore, the facility includes a waterfront walking path, two viewing decks, a public plaza, a landscaped park, a children's play area, a food court and visitor parking. One of the viewing decks has been designed in a Titanic-inspired style.

The project has been developed on existing port land without disrupting regular cargo-handling operations. Its location near the International Cruise Terminal is also expected to support cruise tourism.

Cargo terminal modernisation projects

During the visit, Sonowal laid foundation stones for projects involving the operation, maintenance and modernisation of existing cargo berths at Visakhapatnam Port.

The contracts cover WQ-1 and WQ-1RE, WQ-2 and WQ-3, and EQ-3 berths. The proposed modernisation includes mechanised cargo-handling systems, cranes, conveyor facilities and environmental controls.

According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, these contracts are expected to provide employment to approximately 500 local people. The port authority expects the improvements to strengthen cargo-handling efficiency and capacity utilisation.

Sewage treatment capacity to increase

The Minister also laid the foundation stone for upgrading the port's sewage treatment infrastructure. The existing treatment capacity of 10 million litres per day will be increased to 15 million litres per day through an upgrade and an additional 5 MLD facility.

The project is estimated to cost around ₹11 crore. Treated wastewater is used within the port for dust suppression, road wetting and sprinkling at stockpile yards. The expansion is intended to improve wastewater management and support the port's environmental initiatives under the Harit Sagar framework.

Port records 91.17 million tonnes of cargo

Visakhapatnam Port handled a record 91.17 million metric tonnes of cargo during the financial year 2025–26, registering approximately 10% growth over the previous year.

The port also recorded an increase of 4.44 million metric tonnes, or 8.88%, in cargo handled between April 1 and October 31, 2026, compared with the corresponding period in the previous year.

The port is also moving towards a landlord-port model, with private operators participating in the operation of selected terminals while the port authority retains its role in managing port infrastructure.

A new public space for Visakhapatnam

The promenade adds a public recreational facility to the city's waterfront, allowing visitors to experience the maritime environment from a designated area within the port.

With the new facility, cargo terminal improvements and wastewater treatment expansion, Visakhapatnam Port is pursuing both infrastructure modernisation and greater public access to selected waterfront spaces.

The developments were announced ahead of the 31st CII Partnership Summit 2026, scheduled in Visakhapatnam on November 12 and 13.