Andhra Pradesh is gearing up to position itself as South Asia’s premier logistics hub, as the State government unveils a comprehensive roadmap to transform its port-led infrastructure into a global logistics engine. Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Ports and Logistics Conference held in Visakhapatnam, the State’s Minister for Roads and Buildings, Infrastructure and Investments announced an ambitious plan anchored in sustainability, connectivity, and economic integration.
With the stated goal of turning Andhra Pradesh into the logistics gateway of South Asia, the State has aligned its infrastructure investments with national development frameworks such as the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and Maritime India Vision 2030. The strategic pivot centres on developing four new greenfield ports—Ramayapatnam, Machilipatnam, Mulapeta, and Kakinada Gateway—with Phase I targeted for completion by December 2026.
The State is also establishing a dedicated Logistics Corporation to coordinate multimodal infrastructure, including ports, airports, inland corridors, fishing harbours, and road networks. The move is aimed at delivering integrated connectivity and enhancing efficiency across freight corridors while reducing logistics costs that currently hover around 15.7% of GDP, well above global benchmarks. The target is to bring this figure down to 7–8% by enabling seamless intermodal transfers and improving last-mile connectivity.
The Minister underscored Andhra Pradesh’s long-term vision, Swarna Andhra @2047, which aims to achieve a $2.4 trillion Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and a $42,000 per capita income by the time India marks its centenary of independence. The blueprint envisions an inclusive, high-growth economy driven by infrastructure resilience, innovation, and equitable urbanisation.
A key component in this transformation is the Visakhapatnam–Chennai Industrial Corridor, supported by the Asian Development Bank, which aims to connect nine districts of the State to domestic and Southeast Asian markets. The corridor is being fast-tracked to act as a conduit between manufacturing hubs and international ports, thereby positioning Andhra Pradesh as a competitive player in global supply chains.
Ports in the State already contribute over 5% to its GSDP, and support nearly one million jobs across logistics, ship repair, warehousing, and allied services. According to officials, this number is expected to rise significantly with the completion of planned infrastructure. To bolster these targets, the State is actively developing logistics parks, warehousing zones, and cold storage facilities, aimed at attracting private sector participation and modernising the supply chain ecosystem.
With Chief Minister-led governance steering these reforms, Andhra Pradesh’s approach is being hailed as a model of regional planning that integrates economic growth with spatial equity. The state’s east coast location, deep-draft ports, and growing road network place it in a strong position to serve as a gateway to ASEAN economies.However, experts point out that executing such a large-scale transformation will require policy continuity, streamlined clearances, and robust investor confidence. The emphasis on public-private partnerships, digitised freight management, and climate-resilient design will be crucial for achieving the intended outcomes.
As India looks to enhance its trade capacity, reduce emissions in freight movement, and rebalance growth across regions, Andhra Pradesh’s port-centred development push may well define the next chapter of sustainable industrialisation in the subcontinent.
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