The union shipping ministry is examining all the possibilities suitable in the Nakkapalli area, for setting up a major port. A special committee was in the area on Wednesday to look into the various issues. The committee members visited Nakkapalli, Chandanada and Vodarevu areas on Wednesday to identify a suitable location to set up the new port that needs a major chunk of land, approximately 5,000 acres. The committee led by Paiyam Ozhi would submit a report after thoroughly visiting the other locations and weighing the various points underlying in the port construction.

Apart from Nakkapalli, Duggarajapatnam of Nellore and Ramayyapatnam in Prakasam district are also selected for the probable sites for the major port in the state. The committee consisted of Paradeep Port Trust chairman G J Rao, state ports director Muralidhar Reddy, Cochin shipyard CMD K Subrahmanyam, senior scientist R D Tripathi, advisor to the Union shipping ministry Paiyam Ozhi and senior hydrograhic surveyor D S R Surya Prakash and Girija Shankar.

As per state government’s instructions, the district committee led by the joint collector had made a maiden visit to the mandal in November last, and preliminarily identified Boyapadu, D.L Puram and Rajayyapeta as suitable for a major port. Nakkapalli coast has a draft of 18-20 metres from the coast, which is a major factor in deciding the location. This would lessen the dredging cost. So with expectations and speculation most probably Nakkapalli is going to be zeroed on.