Santosh Patnaik Amaravati

AndhraPradesh Government has given the second extension of deadline to Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd and Aurobindo Realty Ltd, the EPC contractors for construction of the Ramayapatnam Port in Prakasam district, to December 30.

The deadline was reextended following a representation by the EPC contractor that the delay is caused due to non-handing over of balance land (38.03 acres) affecting critical components such as stackyard, internal roads, railway connectivity, and utilities, unforeseen dredging conditions (hard strata) and operational constraints and Force Majeure conditions, including severe cyclones during construction period and geopolitical situation in West Asia affecting fuel supply chains. The contractor cited delay in external infrastructure works, including power transmission and railway connectivity and change in dredge disposal location, increasing operational time and local hindrances and land acquisition issues in Karlapalem and Salipeta villages. Earlier, the government had accorded revised administrative sanction of Rs4,923.39 crore for construction of greenfield port at Ramayapatnam in erstwhile SPSR Nellore district. The technical sanction was accorded by the Chief Engineer in 2020. The work was entrusted to the joint venture comprising Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd. & Aurobindo Realty Ltd with June 23, 2025 as the scheduled date of completion. The first extension was granted till April 27 for completion of Phase-I works without levying liquidated damages. Special Chief Secretary, Infrastructure and Investment MV Krishna Babu in an order issued on Friday said the government after careful examination of the matter, accepted the proposal of Chief Executive Officer, Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board (APMB) to accord 2nd extension of time (EOT) up to 30.12.2026 for completion of the project “Construction of Greenfield Port at Ramayapatnam in Prakasam District on EPC Basis” without levy of liquidated damages subject to condition that no additional amount will be entertained for the act of issue of extension of time. The government has already approved the issuance of RFP for the contract to a firm/consortium for development, operation and maintenance of the port on DBFOT basis on the recommendation of APMB.