Revival of Machilipatnam Port | 15 Jul 2025

Source: BL 

Machilipatnam Port, Andhra Pradesh, was once a prominent ancient port city. It is now undergoing a major revival with the construction of a Greenfield port, expected to become operational by the end of 2026. 

• Ancient Legacy: Machilipatnam also known as Masulipatnam or Maisolia, it flourished as a trading hub as early as the 1st century AD and possibly during Satavahana rule (2nd Century BC – 2nd Century AD). 
  • Traded with Rome, China, Persia, and Southeast Asia; exports included spices, cotton cloth, sugar, and elephants. 
  • From the 1570s, under Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah, Masulipatnam's trade flourished and peaked during Abdullah Qutb Shah’s rule in the late 17th century.  
    • Known as Bandar-i-Mubarak in Golconda records, it was connected to Hyderabad by road and became a profitable port, exporting chintz and other goods across Asia, Africa, and Europe. 
    • In the 17th century, it was the only eastern port with direct trade links to Pegu, Siam, Bengal, Manila, Cochin, Madagascar, China, and Mecca. 
• Cultural Diversity: Machilipatnam hosted a mix of Mongols, Turks, Persians, Jews, Tamils, Dutch, French, and more. 
• Decline Factors: Major cyclones (notably in 1867, killing ~30,000) and Mughal neglect led to its fall. The final blow came under the British, who shifted focus to Madras (Chennai). 
• Revival: The new Greenfield port at Manginapudi, nearing 50% completion, is expected to commence operations by end-2026. It is being developed under a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) Machilipatnam Port Development Corporation Ltd, using the Landlord Model. 
• Economic Impact: Exports from the port will include coal, pharma, cement, fertilizers, and container traffic. 
  • Telangana is also working on establishing a dry port facility and a direct freight corridor to Machilipatnam, boosting regional trade. 
  • Local communities are set to benefit from increased land prices and employment opportunities as the port construction progresses.