New Delhi

Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh on Wednesday informed the Rajya Sabha that a fishing harbour project at Kothapatnam in Andha Pradesh will be completed by 2027-end with an estimated cost of nearly Rs 442 crore.

Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, Singh said the department of fisheries had in October 2022 has approval to the proposal of Andhra Pradesh government for construction of a fishing harbour at Kothapatnam in Prakasam district at a cost of Rs 364 crore. The central share was Rs 80 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

The minister said the contract was cancelled in April 2025 by the state government due to less than 25 per cent progress of work.

The department had already released Rs 40 crore for this project, he added.

Singh said the state government has informed that the project cost has increased to Rs 441.88 crore because of the delay and the project is expected to be completed by December 2027.

He asserted that the current Andhra Pradesh government should not be blamed.

The minister highlighted that India's fish production and exports have risen significantly during the last 11 years under the leadership of the prime minister.

In a written reply, the minister gave a detailed information about the fish harbour project at Kothapatnam in Andha Pradesh.

He said the department of Fisheries during 2022-23 and 2023-24 fiscal years released central share of Rs 40 crore to the state government for this project.

The state government has reported that the work agreement was concluded and work awarded to a contractor in October 2022.

"However, in April, 2025, the contract was cancelled by the state government due to less than 25 per cent progress of work. The state government has not reported any physical progress and fund utilisation in respect of this fishing harbour project," Singh said.

Further, he said the state government has reported that the fishing harbour project cost has been revised upwards to Rs 441.88 crore.

The "revised proposal is being processed for issuance of a revised administrative approval" by the state government, the minister said.

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"The Government of Andhra Pradesh has reported the timeline for completion of Kothapatnam Fishing Harbour project as 31st December, 2027," Singh said.

In addition, the Centre has approved eight fishing harbours and seven fish landing centre projects at a cost of Rs 2,672.40 crore for Andhra Pradesh under Blue Revolution Scheme, Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund, and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.