IIT-Madras to Design ₹323-Crore Coastal Protection Wall for Uppada

The Andhra Pradesh government has moved to strengthen protection along the erosion-hit Uppada coastline in Kakinada district, with IIT-Madras brought on board to provide scientific and technical expertise for a ₹323-crore coastal protection project.

An MoU was signed at the Mangalagiri camp office on Wednesday in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, assigning IIT-Madras responsibility for preparing the design and Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed coastal protection wall. The institute will also oversee the project from a technical perspective.

The project will be taken up with support from Central disaster management funds. The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) will function as the nodal agency, while the AP Maritime Board will execute the construction works.

Given the persistent erosion along Uppada, IIT-Madras experts will conduct a detailed assessment of the coastal stretch before finalising the design. The study will examine shoreline erosion, wave action, sea currents and other coastal dynamics that influence the movement of sand and the stability of the shoreline.

The findings will form the basis for selecting appropriate protection measures and designing structures suited to the local coastal conditions. The institute will also provide technical supervision during implementation.

With the MoU process completed, the district administration is preparing to begin project works from November. Officials said the initiative has been accorded high priority as the erosion poses a continuing threat to coastal settlements and fishing communities in the Uppada region.

The project is expected to provide a stronger line of defence for vulnerable stretches while ensuring that the protection measures are guided by detailed scientific assessment rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Kakinada Collector M.N. Harendhir Prasad, Pollution Control Board Member Secretary Saravanan, PADA Director Dr N.V. Sivaram Prasad, IIT-Madras Ocean Engineering professor S.A. Sannasiraj, SDMA Executive Director Khatib Kausar Bano and AP Maritime Board Chief Engineer G.V. Raghava Rao, among others, attended the MoU signing ceremony.