Visakhapatnam, also known as Vizag, is a lively coastal city on India’s eastern coast, renowned for its scenic splendour and importance as a significant industrial and commercial powerhouse. The Adani Gangavaram Port is a vital doorway for the nation’s trade and business in the middle of this expanding metropolis.
Adani Gangavaram Port announced the induction of two upgraded locomotives ‘WDG3A’ on September 29, 2023, as part of ongoing initiatives to increase capacity and efficiency at the port.
According to a port statement, acquiring these locomotives constitutes a big step in enhancing the port’s rail infrastructure. It fits well with the port’s goal to provide the highest quality logistical services.
A multimodal, all-weather deep-water port that bridges huge hinterlands with revolutionary infrastructure facilities, Gangavaram Port offers its partners productivity along the whole value chain because of its high level of mechanisation in cargo handling, storage and evacuation.
Analysts predict significant growth for the all-weather, versatile port on India’s east coast one year after Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd (APSEZ) acquired a stake in the strategically positioned Gangavaram Port in Andhra Pradesh. This deep-water port has fostered trade, exports and industrial expansion. It can handle a variety of goods, from coal to iron ore. It is the largest port in the nation and continually sets new benchmarks for the maritime sector on operational efficiency.
Analysts have showed confidence following significant capacity development at Gangavaram Port Limited (GPL) after participating in a roadshow hosted by Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd. (APSEZ). This confidence is partly attributable to a lot of land available close to the port and its strategic location with its large hinterland reach.
Gangavaram Port carried about 30 million metric tons (MMT) of cargo in the previous fiscal year (FY22). By FY25, its cargo handling capacity will be more than doubled to 66 MMT. Managing cargo volumes greater than 40 MMT is the primary objective for FY23.
Already, there are contracts in place to handle 1,50,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), or around 2 MMT of container freight, and this number will rise to nearly 4,00,000 TEUs (or over 6 MMT of containers) by FY25.
The expansion can be related to multiple variables, such as the official opening of the NMDC plant at Nagarnar in FY23, an upsurge in steel imports and exports (EXIM) from companies like SAIL, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd, JSW Steel and JSPL, as well as substantial progress in the international trade of agricultural products, including wheat from North India, and rice, tobacco, and chillies from the Guntur region in Andhra Pradesh.
The privatisation of RINL stands out as a significant growth accelerator in the medium term. With approximately 20% of its cargo, RINL is a crucial client of GPL. The decision by the central government to privatise RINL is advantageous for GPL; this action will encourage expansion at RINL, which is now using only 6,000 acres of its 23,000-acre property, eventually boosting cargo volumes at GPL.
At present, APSEZ owns 41.9% of GPL. The monetary consolidation of GPL with APSEZ took effect after approval post April 1, 2021. The total handling cargo capacity of Gangavaram Port, which has five terminals and nine berths, is 64 million metric tonnes per year (MMTPA).
The port has plenty of opportunity to grow to reach its master plan capacity of 200 MMTPA, with a waterfront stretching 25 kilometres and 1,800 freehold properties, including 800 acres reserved for future development and 1,052 acres of leasehold property. Strong evacuation structures, such as a dedicated four-lane road connecting the port to the NH-16 Chennai-Kolkata corridor for 4 kilometres and a 2.5-kilometre electrified double rail line that can link the port to the Chennai-Kolkata trunk route complement the expansion plan.
The introduction of two cutting-edge locomotives, WDG3A, was announced by Adani Gangavaram Port, the nation’s deepest and most contemporary port, as part of ongoing attempts to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
Locomotives are the workhorses of every large industrial port, and their efficiency directly impacts vessel turnaround time and overall port productivity. Adani Gangavaram Port has invested significantly in building and improving its internal rail network. These advanced locomotives will be critical in optimising freight handling procedures and accelerating the building of a storage facility by integrating rail capabilities, which will be functional in the coming months.
The management of Adani Gangavaram Port Limited is thrilled with the introduction of new locomotives. This highlights their dedication to improving efficiency and providing better customer service. These improvements will raise their operational standards and align to surpass customer expectations. Adani Gangavaram Port offers substantial economic advantages to Indian importers, coupled with highly efficient operations and evacuation systems that result in quicker turnaround times and deliveries.
Adani Gangavaram Port has greatly increased its capacity for carrying commodities from the port to other regions of the country by adding two additional locomotives to its fleet.
Two additional locomotives have been added to the Adani Gangavaram Port in Visakhapatnam, a key step in increasing productivity. The port benefits from increased efficiency in cargo processing and transportation, but the national economy too gains. The Adani Gangavaram Port has secured its position as a crucial contributor to the growth and prosperity of Visakhapatnam and India by continuing to set standards for operational excellence.
The port’s dedication to performance excellence, sustainability and its position as a significant player in India’s economic growth story is demonstrated by its investment in extending its locomotive fleet. With the addition of these locomotives, Adani Gangavaram Port’s prospects are bright, and its contribution to Visakhapatnam’s development shall increase even further.
