Minister Defends PPP Model for Ramayapatnam Port

Minister B C Janardhan Reddy defended the state government's decision to develop Ramayapatnam Port using the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

He dismissed allegations of a scam by YSRCP president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who claimed the port was being sold for a minimal upfront payment while leaving the state with significant debt.

The minister argued that the PPP model is standard and successful in India, with 91% of ports operating under it.

He also noted that only 50% of the port's work was completed by June 2024, and the current government has increased progress to 80.5%.

Jagan Mohan Reddy claimed that 95% of the port was completed before the change of government and accused the current government of undermining this progress.

The minister also questioned the previous government's actions regarding the sale of Gangavaram Port and the allotment of berths at Ramayapatnam without transparency.

The port is crucial for major investments, including a proposed greenfield refinery and petrochemical complex by BPCL, a giga-scale manufacturing plant by Indosol Solar, and berths for JSW Steel's integrated steel plant.