VPA launches Rs 83-crore dredging plan to protect Vizag beaches

Visakhapatnam: The Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) has initiated its annual maintenance dredging programme as part of an ongoing beach nourishment initiative aimed at tackling coastal erosion along the shoreline of Visakhapatnam. The project, estimated to cost nearly Rs 83 crore, will be implemented over three years until 2028.Under the programme, around 2.5 lakh cubic metres of silt and sand will be dredged every year from the sand trap area located within the outer harbour. The dredged material will then be pumped ashore through pipelines during a 45-day weather working window each year. This process, known as beach nourishment, helps replenish sand that is naturally lost due to tides, currents and coastal processes.VPA and DCIL, and chairperson Dr Madhaiyaan Angamuthu, informed that the VPA has been committed to controlling erosion by regularly nourishing the RK beach with sand available in the sand trap at the outer harbour. "This is an essential process and is required for retaining and nourishing RK Beach. The port is also working in collaboration with the state government to protect the pristine beach of Vizag," he said.Officials say the initiative is crucial for maintaining the stability of the coastline, particularly along the popular RK Beach and nearby beachfront stretches in Visakhapatnam. Over the years, these beaches have experienced gradual erosion due to changes in natural sand movement and human interventions along the coast. To solve this problem, VPA has been carrying out beach nourishment activities for several years by transferring sand from within the port area to eroding beach stretches. The sand collected from the sand trap in the outer harbour is pumped ashore using specialised dredgers and floating pipelines, restoring the sand balance along the coast.The new three-year dredging contract will ensure regular replenishment of sand and help sustain the stability of the city beachfront areas while supporting broader coastal management efforts in Visakhapatnam.