Hans News Service Amaravati

Withthe Juvvaladinne fishing harbour in Nellore district nearing completion, the state government has initiated the process of bringing the facility into commercial operation by inviting a private operator to manage and maintain the harbour.

The government has approved the issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP) to select an operations and maintenance (O&M) operator for the harbour, marking the final step before the project becomes operational.

Spread over 114.13 acres, the harbour has been developed on 47.31 acres with core fisheries and allied infrastructure. Construction has reached 96 per cent completion, and the facility has been designed to serve the region’s fishing sector for the next 40 years.

Once operational, the harbour will have the capacity to accommodate 1,250 fishing vessels, including 1,000 boats of 9 metres, 100 each of 12-metre and 15-metre vessels, and 50 boats of 25 metres, with an annual fish handling capacity of 41,250 metric tonnes.

The Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board (APMB) told the government that outsourcing operations has become the preferred model at major fishing harbours. A professional operator would ensure efficient harbour management, maintenance of infrastructure and uninterrupted services to fishermen, while reducing the government’s long-term maintenance burden.

To attract wider participation from experienced operators, the government has reduced the performance security requirement from Rs 6 crore to Rs 2 crore and extended the bid submission period to 45 days, giving prospective bidders more time to evaluate the project and submit proposals.

The RFP was vetted by the tender evaluation and EPC committee, which recommended inviting bids after government approval.

The Juvvaladinne fishing harbour is expected to significantly strengthen marine infrastructure in coastal Andhra Pradesh by providing organised berthing, fish landing, handling and allied facilities, benefiting fishermen across Nellore district and improving the region’s seafood logistics and fishing economy.