India earmarks coastal sites for mega shipbuilding and repair projects
India will need more, bigger shipyards to meet its shipbuilding commitments (Source: Cochin)
India has designated land in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh for the development of large-scale shipbuilding and repair centres, as part of a strategic push to boost its maritime sector.
One proposed RS10,000 crore (EUR 1.04 million) shipyard in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, where Cochin Shipyard Ltd is in advanced talks with South Korea’s HD Hyundai, is expected to act as a cornerstone of India’s global shipbuilding and ship repair drive.
The Government’s plan is supported by a proposed RS18,090 crore subsidy scheme for domestic shipbuilding and a RS25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund, detailed in the 2025–26 Budget. Though currently holding less than 1% of the global shipbuilding market, India aims to enter the top 10 by 2030 and the top 5 by 2047.
The strategy includes acquiring state-owned ships, strengthening domestic shipping capacity through Bharat Container Line, and inviting investment from overseas players in the Netherlands, France, and the Gulf.
