Major Step for Greenfield Shipyard at Dugarajapatnam

Andhra Pradesh has taken a major step towards developing itself as a leading shipbuilding and marine manufacturing hub. The state government has signed an MoU with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) for the development of a greenfield shipyard at Dugarajapatnam. The agreement between MDL and the National Shipbuilding and Heavy Industries Park–AP (NSHIP-AP) was signed at the Secretariat in the presence of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. MDL is expected to invest around ₹15,000 crore over the next five years, with the project projected to create direct and indirect employment opportunities for around 45,000 people. The proposed shipyard will have an annual shipbuilding capacity of 1.2 million gross tonnes.

The state government also plans to develop an integrated shipbuilding-cum-port cluster at Dugarajapatnam. According to the Techno-Economic Feasibility Report, the shipbuilding and ship repair yard is estimated to require around ₹29,254 crore, while port development is estimated at ₹9,513 crore. The shipyard will be equipped to build tankers, bulk carriers, container vessels, LNG carriers and other specialised heavy vessels. The project will provide direct connectivity to the Majri–Nanded route and help reduce dependence on the busy Balharshah–Nagpur high-density network. It is also expected to support industrial and economic development while aligning with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and the central government’s Shipbuilding Development Scheme.