Mazagon Dock Commits Rs 27,000 Crore to Establish Shipbuilding Cluster at Dighi Port

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd has committed an estimated investment of Rs 27,000 crore to establish a massive greenfield shipbuilding cluster at Dighi Port in Maharashtra's Raigad district. The defense public sector undertaking signed a memorandum of understanding with National Shipbuilding and Heavy Industries Park Maharashtra Ltd in Mumbai, with state leadership projecting the initiative to create approximately 90,000 jobs across the coastal region.

The venture positions the premier defense shipbuilder as the anchor entity for what is planned to be India's largest shipyard development. Operating under the central government Greenfield Shipbuilding Cluster Development Plan, the project aims to align with the broader strategic objectives outlined in the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

Under the terms of the formal agreement, Mazagon Dock has established a baseline target of achieving an annual shipbuilding capacity of at least two million gross tonnes at the Dighi facility. While The Hindu reported an initial phased investment target of approximately Rs 15,000 crore with a 1.2 million gross tonnage capacity, official state releases across NDTV, Mid-Day, and CNBC TV18 cited the larger Rs 27,000 crore capital outlay and two million gross tonnage capacity.

The facility is engineered to construct large commercial vessels alongside military warships, establishing a dual-purpose industrial hub. Beyond primary manufacturing, the master plan incorporates comprehensive infrastructure for shipbreaking, specialized ship recycling, and advanced ship repair operations.

The industrial cluster is structured as a collaborative venture between central and state authorities, specifically developed jointly by the Maharashtra Maritime Board and the Mumbai Port Authority. These entities operate through NSHIPML, a dedicated special-purpose vehicle established to manage the project implementation.

State officials emphasized that the Raigad facility will develop a localized industrial supply chain ecosystem designed to attract foreign and domestic technology investments. The infrastructure is expected to account for roughly 40% of the total shipbuilding capacity envisioned under national maritime development blueprints.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the project will create approximately 15,000 direct jobs alongside 75,000 indirect employment opportunities across the Konkan coastal belt. Cabinet port portfolio holder Nitesh Rane was credited with coordinating local administrative efforts for the venture.

Construction and active development at the site are scheduled to commence once statutory permissions and regulatory clearances are secured. Captain Jagmohan, Chairman and Managing Director of Mazagon Dock, signed the partnership documents alongside NSHIPML Managing Director Pradeep P, with project completion targeted within a three-year window.