Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated a series of developmental projects at Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA), today. They include Operation & Maintenance of East Quay (EQ)-1A Terminal, awarded to M/s Green Energy Resources with an investment of Rs 130 crores.  The project includes deployment of two 120-ton Harbour Mobile Cranes (HMCs) and connected infrastructure for a 5+1-year period, enhancing capacity by 3 MMTPA.  The initiative is expected to generate around 150 jobs, reduce logistics costs, and strengthen Visakhapatnam Port’s position as a key cargo hub on the East Coast.

 

 

The Union Minister also inaugurated the Smart Video Surveillance Project, valued at Rs. 37.53 crore, executed by M/s RailTel Corporation of India Ltd., Hyderabad.   This initiative integrates AI/ML-based Video Analytics, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, and an Integrated Command Control Centre (ICCC) with 5 years of O&M support.   Designed to be implemented within 12 months, the project enhances port security, operational efficiency, and compliance while enabling real-time monitoring, asset tracking, and predictive analytics-making VPA a future-ready Smart Port.

 

 

Another major project inaugurated was the Digital Health Card System, implemented by M/s Triunfador Pvt Ltd., Visakhapatnam, at a cost of Rs. one crore.  The project, to be completed in 3 months, enables digital access to health records for employees, pensioners, and dependents through QR/Aadhaar-linked smart health cards.