Is Dugarajapatnam Port shelved?

Nellore: It seems the State government had shelved Dugarajapatnam Port in the district by giving its nod on Tuesday for the port at Ramayapatnam in neighbouring Prakasam district.

A GO in this regard was released by Principal Secretary Ajay Jain. Even though the Dugarajapatnam Port was included in the AP Reorganisation Act-2014, it was not considered both by the State and Central governments.

It may be recalled that the YSR Congress leaders from Prakasam and Telugu Desam leaders campaigned for setting up Ramayapatnam Port in Prakasam district even as there was no clarity on the proposed Dugarajapatnam Port in Nellore.

Recently, the TDP leaders and others started a movement demanding the port in Prakasam district. Leaders from Kavali constituency started demanding Ramayapatnam Port joining hands with Prakasam leaders.

In fact, BJP, YSR Congress and Congress leaders have been demanding construction of Dugarajapatnam Port. Dugarajapatnam is on the southern part of Nellore district and Ramayapatnam Port is on the northern part of the Prakasam.

But, leaders in Nellore who failed to achieve the Dugarajapatnam Port have shifted their focus on Ramayapatnam some time ago. A committee was also formed consisting of Kavali legislator and YSR Congress leader R Prathap Kumar Reddy along with local leaders for achieving Ramayapatnam Port for development of the backward region of Prakasam district.

Dugarajapatnam Port was approved by the UPA government in 2013 and it has now been put on backburner. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 8,000 crore for the first stage works and the land requirement is 5,000 acres. Officials have already acquired about 4,150 acres for the project.

As the Cabinet approved the Ramayapatnam Port Project, Ministers and other leaders from Nellore and Prakasam district have met Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and invited him for a success meet at Ramayapatnam on September 15, according to sources.