AMBITIONS AFLOAT. Gujarat port gears up to develop Rs27,000 crore greenfield shipbuilding clusters in Kutch

The Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) in Gujarat is planning to develop a significant shipbuilding cluster near Kandla Port, aiming to construct 50 Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) annually. This greenfield project, estimated at ₹27,000 crores, will be situated in Veera village, near Tuna Tekra in Kutch district. The facility will cover 2,000 acres and feature a 1.2-kilometer waterfront, with DPA providing the land on a 30-year lease, along with necessary connectivity and infrastructure.

Once operational, the shipyard will become the 11th in Gujarat, which currently has a combined shipbuilding capacity of over 5.4 lakh deadweight tonnage (DWT). The new facility aims to produce 32 ships and repair 50 vessels annually. The development is expected to create numerous employment opportunities and bolster India's maritime industry.

In addition to the shipbuilding cluster, the DPA is undertaking other infrastructure projects to enhance port capacity and efficiency. These include a new cargo terminal to handle 135 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) and improvements to liquid cargo handling facilities. The expansion aligns with the government vision to transform Deendayal Port into a major shipping hub, with a target cargo handling capacity of 300 MTPA within three years.

These initiatives are part of a broader effort to modernize India port infrastructure, attract global shipbuilders, and strengthen the nation position in the global maritime industry.