Hans News Service Vijayawada

Thestate government has approved the Request for Proposal (RFP) for developing inland waterways connectivity on the Krishna river linking Muktyala to Machilipatnam port, marking a major step towards strengthening multimodal transport infrastructure in the State.

The project will be executed under the Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) model through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), aiming to unlock the potential of inland waterways for cargo, passenger, and tourism movement.

According to the AP Inland Waterways Authority (APIWA), the proposed corridor spans 168 km, comprising an 82-km river stretch on the Krishna river — part of National Waterway-4 — and an 86-km canal stretch along the Bandar canal.

The proposal follows detailed feasibility studies conducted by WAPCOS, which assessed traffic potential, industrial demand, and infrastructure requirements, particularly for cargo movement such as cement transport from Muktyala to Machilipatnam. The study recommended navigation using Class-III vessels, along with key interventions including a navigational lock at Prakasam barrage, repairs to existing lock gates, and removal of low-clearance bridges.

The state government’s decision comes after stakeholder consultations held in June 2025, where representatives from the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), government agencies, and industry participants emphasized the need to develop waterways as an alternative, cost-effective transport mode.

Following this, APIWA floated an Expression of Interest (EoI), which indicated strong market demand for port connectivity through inland waterways, especially in view of Andhra Pradesh’s expanding port ecosystem, including operational ports at Kakinada and upcoming greenfield ports at Machilipatnam, Mulapeta, and Ramayapatnam. The RFP has already been cleared by the Tender Evaluation Committee and EPC Committee in February 2026. With the government now formally approving the proposal, the project is set to move into the bidding stage. Officials said the initiative is expected to significantly reduce logistics costs, improve connectivity between hinterland industries and ports, and position Andhra Pradesh as a leader in inland water transport on the east coast.