Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Visakhapatnam Port (VPT) has emerged as one of the top 20 ports globally, thanks to a series of strategic modernization and infrastructure upgrades that have drastically improved its operational efficiency and global standing, announced  N. Sridhar, Principal Commissioner of Customs, Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA).Addressing a Trade Meet in Hyderabad on Friday evening at Hotel Marigold, he said that with improved turnaround times, mechanized operations and real-time cargo tracking, the Port is now the fastest among Indian ports.

The Trade Meet was jointly organized with the Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI) .Key performance indicators for the port include 27.5 moves per crane hour, reducing the Turnaround time of just 21.4 hours, and thus making minimal berth idle time. The Principal Commissioner of Customs also announced that the cargo handling target for FY 2025–26 is set at 90 million tonnes (MT), up from 82.62 MT handled in the previous fiscal year, showcasing the port’s steady growth trajectory.

R. Ravi Kumar, President of FTCCI, emphasized the critical role of ports in India’s trade landscape, noting that 95% of India's exports by volume and 70% by value are routed via sea ports. Maritime trade remains essential for the country’s global competitiveness. He said that VPT’s projected cargo traffic growth was 3–6% annually and utilisation was stabilising at 55% in the medium term. Other dignitaries who spoke at the event included Mr. Murali Krishna, Director, Pharmexcil, Mr. R.P. Naidu, Regional Head, APEDA and Senior officials from Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA).