The Central government has given clearance for Visakhapatnam Port to take up construction of a cruise and coastal cargo terminal in 2019.

The command and control centre for streamlining functioning of the port and to improve customer satisfaction was inaugurated on 21 December 2018.

The Centre, which will be operational all the time, will monitor all operations within the port premises. The government has advanced technological features -- CCTV footage from 80 high resolution HD cameras positioned at various locations for effective monitoring of cargo-handling operations, as well as for surveillance to tighten security.

The cruise berth and terminal work will start in a few months' time, with the Central financial assistance. The Union Ministry of Tourism had agreed to bear half the cost of Rs 77 crore needed for the project which will be given as a grant.