MDL plans Rs 27,000 crore shipbuilding cluster at Dighi, eyes 90,000 jobs

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) will invest around Rs 27,000 crore to set up a greenfield shipbuilding cluster at Dighi in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, a project expected to create around 90,000 jobs and significantly expand the country’s shipbuilding capacity.

The company on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with National Shipbuilding and Heavy Industries Park Maharashtra Ltd (NSHIPML) for the project in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, according to a state government release.

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Under the agreement, MDL has set a target of achieving an annual shipbuilding capacity of at least 2 million gross tonnes at the proposed Dighi facility. The cluster will enable the construction of large commercial vessels and is aimed at strengthening India’s maritime industrial capabilities.

The Dighi shipbuilding cluster is being jointly developed by the Maharashtra Maritime Board and Mumbai Port Authority through NSHIPML, a special-purpose company set up for the project.

The initiative is being developed under the Centre’s Greenfield Shipbuilding Cluster Development Plan and is aligned with the objectives of Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

The project will include modern shipbuilding infrastructure as well as an industrial and supply-chain ecosystem to support the growth of the sector, the release said.

The state government expects the cluster to boost domestic shipbuilding capacity, attract technology and investment, generate skilled employment and improve India’s competitiveness in the global maritime industry.

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MDL Chairman and Managing Director Captain Jagmohan said the company would work towards creating a modern, globally competitive shipbuilding facility at Dighi with the support of all stakeholders.

“MDL will work towards creating a modern, globally competitive shipbuilding facility at Dighi with the cooperation of all stakeholders,” Captain Jagmohan said.

He signed the MoU with NSHIPML Managing Director Pradeep P at the ceremony.

The project is also expected to support the development of a wider maritime manufacturing and supply-chain ecosystem in Maharashtra as the state seeks to strengthen its position in India’s shipbuilding industry.