Proposed seaport to be constructed at Machilipatnam receives CRZ clearance

In a recent development, the seaport proposed to be constructed at Machilipatnam in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh received coastal regulation zone clearance from the Chennai-based National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management. This has set the stage for the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board to process it in order to obtain the nod of the Mi­nistry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Andhra Pradesh Pollu­tion Control Board (APPCB). An APPCB committee is expected to soon clear decks for this greenfield port, which is planned to be developed on about 1,145 acres. According to officials, the detailed project report has been prepared and vetted by Rail India Technical and Economic Service Limited and the contract for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) is yet to be awarded. An SPV, Machilipatnam Port Development Corporation Limi­ted, has been created to undertake the port construction once all statutory clearances are secured.