New Delhi: Gujarat Science and Technology Minister Arjun Modhwadia met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday to thank him for the Centre’s approval of a mega shipbuilding project in Porbandar, which is expected to attract an investment of around Rs 27,500 crore.
During the meeting, Modhwadia expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for approving the project and honoured him with a traditional turban and a shawl.
He also briefed PM Modi on the work being carried out by his ministry and discussed ongoing development projects in Porbandar district being implemented by the state government under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
According to the minister, he also sought the Prime Minister’s guidance on the district’s future development.
The proposed shipbuilding yard forms part of the Centre’s broader effort to strengthen India’s maritime manufacturing sector.
Last month, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways granted in-principle approval for a Greenfield shipbuilding cluster in Porbandar district under the Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS).
The project will be developed through the National Shipbuilding and Heavy Industries Park-Gujarat (NSHIP-Gujarat), a special purpose vehicle promoted by the Ministry and the Gujarat Maritime Board.
The cluster is planned at Kuchhadi village in Porbandar district over nearly 2,000 acres and is expected to include modern shipyards, ancillary manufacturing units, logistics infrastructure, research and development facilities and skill development centres.
The project is intended to enhance India’s shipbuilding capacity and support the country’s Maritime “Amrit Kaal Vision 2047” to expand domestic shipbuilding and ship repair capabilities.
The meeting comes as Gujarat continues to position itself as a major maritime hub, supported by its long coastline and a series of infrastructure initiatives aimed at expanding port-led industrial development and strengthening the state’s role in India’s shipping sector.
(IANS)
