The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to construct a modern fishing harbour at Pudimadaka in Atchutapuram mandal, about 50 km from here. At present, several motorised and traditional boats operate from the open coast. The Central Institute of Coastal Engineering for Fishery (CICEF), Bengaluru, is preparing a detailed project report. The new harbourBased on their report, we will go ahead with the construction of a modern fishing harbour at Pudimadaka, Joint Director of Fisheries Koteswara Rao told The Hindu. He said this would be the State government’s initiative to encourage organised fishery and improve the livelihood of traditional fishermen. A preliminary survey has already been conducted. will have an auction hall, beach landing centre, net mending facility, gear and rest shed, ice plant, cold storage, radio communication facilities and an administrative building. The project will be a standalone coastal infrastructure with a fish handling capacity of 28,700 tonne per annum. It is estimated that in order to accommodate 930 vessels of various sizes, including 700 with nine-metre-long motorised boats and some tuna long-liners, a reclamation of nearly 2.5 lakh cubic metres will be required, involving an investment of ?300 crore to develop a world-class fishing harbour. The development of a fishing harbour with all the facilities is a long awaited demand of local people. We want the project to be taken up on a fast-track basis, Arjili Dasu, a fishermen activist from the area, said. Pudimadaka has a population of 20,000 of which 650 to 700 go on fishing on their fibre and catamaran boats. This will not only improve the living of fishermen but also ensure hygienic conditions, Mr. Dasu, executive director of the Visakhapatnam Youth Fishermen Welfare Association, said. The fishing harbour in the city is one of the largest in the country. It is under the control of the Visakhapatnam Port Trust. It was built in 1976 with 11 jetties in 26 acres.