December 12, 2025: Maharashtra is set for a major maritime push as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the establishment of the country’s largest shipyard by 2026. The decision follows a review meeting of the ports development department held at Vidhan Bhavan, attended by Fisheries and Ports Development Minister Nitesh Rane. Citing the state’s 720 km coastline, rapid development around Jawaharlal Nehru Port, and growing maritime opportunities, Fadnavis instructed officials to prepare a detailed project report and finalise land for the shipyard.
He also stressed accelerating development at Jaigad, Revdanda and Vijaydurg ports while urging faster completion of the Vaibhavwadi–Kolhapur railway line to support cargo movement. The state’s financial participation for the railway must be secured, he said. Fadnavis noted that the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation is building a highway linking JNPA to Nashik and directed planners to consider development potential along both sides of the corridor to attract investors. Port-led industrialisation should be prioritised, he emphasised.
Maharashtra currently moves 18 million passengers each year through 36 ferry routes, of which 16 million are in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region alone. To expand water-based mobility, the state is advancing the Mumbai Water Metro project, which proposes 21 terminals across a 200 nautical mile network. “The boats for the project will be fully electric, with hybrid models used initially and new boats purchased subsequently,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the scale of the Mumbai Water Metro will surpass even Kochi’s system. A detailed project report is already underway.
The maritime infrastructure push is expected to strengthen Maharashtra’s port capacity, improve passenger mobility, and enhance the state’s competitiveness as a national maritime hub.
Source: Mumbai Live
