Mumbai, Nov. 9 -- Maharashtra is set to host India's largest shipyard at Dighi Port in Raigad district, in the coastal Konkan region. State fisheries and port development minister Nitesh Rane said on Monday that a tripartite agreement had been finalised between Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL), the Central Government and the Maharashtra Government for the project.
The shipyard will involve an investment of Rs. 265 bn and is expected to create employment for about 50,000 people. It will be developed as part of a specialised Greenfield Shipbuilding Cluster, Rane said at the inaugural session of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry's (FICCI) Maritime India Conference and Expo 2026.
Rane described the Dighi Shipyard project as part of Maharashtra's wider effort to advance maritime and port-led infrastructure. He said the state would soon introduce a comprehensive maritime development policy focused on attracting investment through single-window clearances and measures intended to make the framework investor-friendly.
The minister also said every memorandum signed by Maharashtra at last year's India Maritime Summit had since resulted in an investment. During its first 100 days, the state introduced a policy covering shipbuilding, ship repair and ship breaking, with the aim of streamlining environmental clearances, reducing project development time and encouraging land acquisition.
Vijay Sankar, president-elect of FICCI and chairman of Sanmar Group, said India's major ports handled a record 915 mn tonnes of cargo in FY26, exceeding the target with growth of 7 per cent. He described the Union government's Rs. 700 bn package for shipbuilding and the maritime sector as a significant opportunity for states, while calling for integrated infrastructure, stronger industry investment and greater use of Indian ships for Indian cargo.
The Netherlands, the event's official partner country, is promoting sustainable and digital shipping infrastructure. Thierry Van Helden, consul and deputy head of mission at the Netherlands Consulate General in Mumbai, said the India-Netherlands Green and Digital Sea Corridor would need commercially viable projects, and announced that a Dutch shipbuilding delegation would visit India in February 2027.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.