India's Next Maritime Hub: Mulapeta Port Gets Ready

The Greenfield Mulapeta Deepwater Port in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district is set to begin trial operations in December 2025 with the arrival of its first vessel. Full-scale commissioning is targeted for June 2026.

Developed by the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board at an estimated cost of ₹4,300 crore, the port is strategically located 180 km from Visakhapatnam and aims to significantly enhance maritime infrastructure in north coastal Andhra Pradesh.

In Phase 1, the port will feature four berths within an artificial harbor, safeguarded by two breakwaters—2,855 meters to the south and 580 meters to the north. With a draft depth of 52 feet, the port will accommodate vessels up to 120,000 DWT, capable of handling coal, containers, and multipurpose cargo.

The port has already attracted industrial investment commitments worth over ₹2 lakh crore, with major players such as ExxonMobil, Haldia Petrochemicals, Yamna (UK), and Kalyani Steels planning projects across 7,000 acres in the vicinity. The Visakhapatnam Port Authority has also shown interest in investing.

Connectivity to the port will be further strengthened by a proposed 200-km coastal highway linking Mulapeta Port to the upcoming Bhogapuram Airport, enhancing multimodal logistics and access to global trade routes.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.