Kakinada is to be developed into an international logistics and export hub, Roads Minister B.C. Janardhana Reddy announced, with the state's marine-based economy also earmarked for strengthening under the plan. The remarks were made to reporters on the margins of the Confederation of Indian Industry regional summit, held at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Kakinada, with tourism minister Kandula Durgesh and industries minister T.G. Bharat present alongside him.
Reddy described ports as more than berths for vessels, arguing they function as active trade corridors that bring together farmers, fishing communities, and industrial producers to reach buyers both domestically and abroad. Plans outlined in the statement described a push to position Andhra Pradesh as a leading logistics destination, drawing together coastal shipping lanes, road networks, rail corridors, and inland waterways into a unified transport framework.
Positioned along the coast, Kakinada offered natural features suited to seaborne commerce, he noted. Yanam port, together with the special economic zone facility, a deep-water berth, an anchorage point, and a fishing harbour, collectively underpins the region's maritime trade activity, according to the minister.
Across the three harbour facilities, freight volumes for the 2025–26 financial year broke down as follows: Kakinada Deep Water Port handled 18.42 million tonnes, the anchorage port recorded 3.42 million tonnes, and the Rava port nearby accounted for a further 0.58 million tonnes. Combined, the state's port network moved roughly 210 million tonnes of freight over the course of the year, representing a 12 per cent rise against the preceding year's total.
Road and freight infrastructure across the state is being expanded through a series of ongoing construction programmes, Janardhana Reddy indicated. Of 155 road schemes recorded in total, 104 were actively under construction — stretching across 1,967 km and drawing on a combined outlay of ₹38,815 crore — while a further 51, covering an additional 2,624 km, remained at the planning and approval stage. Across the portfolio of ventures under review, combined capital commitments cleared the ₹1 lakh crore threshold.
Freight movement along National Waterway-4 carried the potential for considerably reduced shipping costs. Plans were drawn up to integrate ports, roads, railways, and waterways into a unified transport and logistics framework.
Speaking at the industry gathering, tourism minister Kandula Durgesh urged businesses to channel new investment into the state, with the government committing to support those who choose to set up operations there. Plans were outlined for the state to develop into a leading tourism hub, with the sector having been formally classified under industrial policy.
Industries Minister Bharat said regional conferences are being arranged as a way to spread development work more evenly across the state. The gatherings aim to bring together local investors, public representatives, and officials to sharpen coordination across those groups while offering clearer direction on the region's development agenda. Bharat set a deadline of 18 months from the date of approval for industries to have their facilities operational.
