Maharashtra has become the first Indian state to roll out a dedicated policy for shipbuilding, repair, and recycling.
Approved by the state cabinet on April 29, the new Shipbuilding, Ship Repair and Ship Recycling Policy, 2025, aims to position Maharashtra as a competitive player in the global maritime market. With Alang in Gujarat currently dominating India’s shipbreaking industry, the state is keen to attract a significant share of the business. The Mahayuti government is setting its sights on accounting for nearly one-third of all ship-recycling activities in the country. Alang is globally recognised as the largest shipbreaking cluster, while the global shipbuilding market, valued at $70 billion (₹5.9 lakh crore), remains primarily controlled by China, South Korea, and Japan. The Maharashtra government plans to leverage its 720-km-long coastline that stretches across key districts such as Palghar, Thane, Mumbai, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. Nitesh Rane, the state’s ports and fisheries minister, stated that the policy is crafted to attract ₹6,600 crore in investments and generate 40,000 jobs by 2030. The long-term vision targets ₹18,000 crore in investments and 3.3 lakh jobs by 2047.
Rane added that the government will also focus on skill development for youth to ensure a steady supply of trained maritime workers. The Maharashtra Maritime Board is tasked with creating supporting infrastructure like roads and capital subsidies for upcoming projects. The initiative is in line with the Centre’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. India currently holds just 1% of the global shipbuilding market. China commands 50%, followed by South Korea (28%) and Japan (15%). However, in ship-recycling, India ranks second globally—though it’s facing increasing competition from Bangladesh and Pakistan, who benefit from fewer regulatory restrictions and higher yield returns. While ship-recycling is a well-established sector, ship repair remains a nascent opportunity. The global ship-repair market is estimated at $12 billion (₹1.01 lakh crore), led by China, Singapore, Bahrain, and Dubai. Maharashtra’s new policy is expected to give India a stronger foothold in this under-tapped domain.
With its forward-looking policy and strategic geographic advantages, Maharashtra is betting big on maritime growth, aiming to shift the tides in its favour in the coming decades.
