WASHINGTON: Visakhapatnam Port Trust has launched a massive beautification operation at a cost of 1.69 crore to give a new look to its surroundings. Buoyed by its ranking as the second cleanest among all the 12 major ports by an independent agency after Haldia Dock in May, the port directed all the departments and its users to not only maintain a clean appearance but also further improve its look with a beautification drive. “Cleanliness is not a one-day affair. We have to inculcate the culture of cleanliness in our day-to-day life,” Visakhapatnam Port Chairman M.T. Krishna Babu told The Hindu.
The port is taking up several activities during the Swachch Bharat Abhiyan being conducted from September 15 to October 2. The port is spending 2,500 crore mostly through PPP investors to enhance its capacity from 93 million tonne to 125 million tonne. An international consultant is also being appointed to monitor the progress of various pollution-control programmes. The highest amount of 81 lakh is being spent on sweeping of roads with mechanical machines followed by modernisation and construction of toilet complexes by spending 56 lakh.