Andhra Pradesh plans to develop Kakinada into a major international logistics and export hub by integrating its ports with roads, railways and waterways, Roads Minister B.C. Janardhana Reddy said at a Confederation of Indian Industry regional summit in Kakinada.
Janardhana Reddy said the initiative was part of the state’s effort to strengthen its marine-based economy and build Andhra Pradesh into a leading logistics hub. He said ports should be treated not only as docking points for ships but as trade centres connecting farmers, fishermen and industries with domestic and international markets.
The minister pointed to Kakinada’s existing maritime infrastructure, including Yanam port, the special economic zone port, the deep-water port, the anchorage port and the fishing harbour. He said the region’s geographical advantages gave it a strong base for maritime trade and export-linked economic activity.
Cargo figures cited at the summit show the scale of activity already passing through the region. During the 2025–26 financial year, Kakinada Deep Water Port handled 18.42 million tonnes of cargo, while the anchorage port handled 3.42 million tonnes and nearby Rava port handled 0.58 million tonnes. Ports across Andhra Pradesh handled about 210 million tonnes during the year, representing 12 per cent growth over the previous year, according to the minister.
The proposed logistics network is also linked to a wider road-building programme. Janardhana Reddy said 104 road projects covering 1,967 kilometres and involving an investment of ₹38,815 crore were under execution across the state. Another 51 projects spanning 2,624 kilometres were in the pipeline. The total investment associated with these projects exceeded ₹1 lakh crore, he said.
The government also plans to use National Waterway-4 to support lower-cost freight movement. Integrating inland waterways with ports, highways and rail connections would form the basis of the logistics network outlined by the minister, although the statement did not provide a detailed implementation schedule or identify specific projects connecting Kakinada’s port facilities to the waterway.
The announcement was made alongside Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh and Industries Minister T.G. Bharat during the regional summit at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Kakinada. Durgesh invited industrialists to invest in Andhra Pradesh and said the government would support the establishment of industrial units. He also said tourism had been declared an industrial sector and that the state would be developed as a premier tourism destination.
Bharat said regional conferences were being organised to improve coordination among local investors, elected representatives and officials and to provide greater clarity on regional development priorities. He added that industries would be expected to establish their units within 18 months of obtaining permission. The ministers did not announce a separate deadline for the Kakinada logistics hub or specify the institutional mechanism for coordinating the port, road, rail and waterway components.
