APPCB to divert Vizag port, steel plant heavy vehicles to curb pollution
In a bid to tackle air pollution in Visakhapatnam’s industrial belt, the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) will work with the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) and the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) to divert heavy vehicles from Gangavaram Port and the Steel Plant that currently pass through Gajuwaka, APPCB chairman P. Krishnaiah has announced.
Background
The decision follows concerns raised by the Greater Visakhapatnam Citizens’ Forum (GVCF) during a recent video conference focused on air pollution control, air quality monitoring, and emissions from port and industrial activities. GVCF president Sohan Hatangadi and secretary Capt. N. Viswanathan participated in the discussions, highlighting community demands for stronger mitigation and transparency measures.
Traffic diversion to ease pollution in Gajuwaka
According to Mr. Krishnaiah, the APPCB, GVMC and RTA will take up the diversion of heavy vehicular traffic originating from Gangavaram Port and the Steel Plant that now transits through the densely populated Gajuwaka corridor. The move aims to reduce dust and vehicular emissions that have contributed to persistent haze along key stretches leading to Gajuwaka.
Air quality monitoring: new stations by November
Mr. Krishnaiah outlined the existing and upcoming monitoring infrastructure in the city. Visakhapatnam currently has eight manual air quality monitoring stations and three Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS). To strengthen real-time surveillance, five additional Internet of Things (IoT) sensor-based monitoring stations are planned to be operational by November, he said.
Port mechanisation and compliance at VPA
The APPCB chairman reported that about 40% of the required mechanisation work at the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) has been completed. He cautioned that if the remaining work is not finished, the matter will be reviewed for appropriate action when the VPA’s Consent for Operation comes up for renewal. He directed officials to ensure compliance and to instruct the VPA to use only chemicals approved under Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines.
Immediate dust-control steps on the ground
Regional officials informed the forum that interim dust-control steps are in place, including covering trucks with tarpaulins and deploying ground sprinklers to suppress dust along loading, unloading, and transit areas.
Extending NGT directions to Gangavaram Port
Responding to a key proposal from the citizens’ forum, Mr. Krishnaiah said he was positively inclined to extend National Green Tribunal (NGT) directions that currently apply to the Visakhapatnam Port to Gangavaram Port as well. The APPCB will also engage with the GVMC to pursue the installation of low-cost dust monitors at construction and demolition sites across the city, aiming to better track particulate emissions from such activities.
Calls for data transparency and timely publication
The GVCF pressed for faster integration of the newly established CAAQMS at Harbour Park and Siripuram with the CPCB website, enabling public access to real-time air quality data. The forum also sought public access to industrial CAAQMS data, the publication of the latest Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) score for the area, and the release of findings from the Source Apportionment Study conducted by Andhra University. The forum said it would continue to follow up with the relevant agencies on these matters.
Next steps
With the traffic diversion plan set to be taken up jointly by the APPCB, GVMC, and the RTA, and with additional monitoring stations expected by November, authorities signaled a multipronged approach—combining enforcement, infrastructure upgrades, and better data transparency—to curb port- and industry-linked pollution in Visakhapatnam.
Published: October 1, 2026
