Nagpur

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday asked officials to draw up an action plan for setting up what could become the country’s biggest shipyard, highlighting the state’s long coastline, the upcoming Vadhavan port and the expanding maritime sector.

The directive came during a review of the Ports Development Department held at Vidhan Bhavan’s ministerial council hall, where the winter session of the state legislature is under way, according to an official statement. Fisheries and Ports Development Minister Nitesh Rane joined the meeting.

Fadnavis said a detailed project report should be prepared without delay, along with the identification of a suitable site for the shipbuilding facility.

He pointed out that the proposed Vaibhavwadi–Kolhapur railway link in Sindhudurg district would boost access to ports like Angre, Redi and Vijaydurg. The Chief Minister also noted that the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation is developing a highway connecting Vadhavan port in Palghar district to Nashik, and stressed the need for a planned approach to developing the areas surrounding the corridor.

To accelerate industrial activity in coastal zones, Fadnavis suggested forming a joint entity between the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and the Ports Department. Given the scale of the Vadhavan port project, he also proposed creating a special planning authority to oversee integrated development of major ports and their neighbouring regions.

On the Mumbai Water Metro proposal, Fadnavis said the long-term goal should be a fully electric fleet, with hybrid vessels deployed during the early stages. He emphasised that the project should surpass the scale of the Kochi Water Metro and must include the procurement of new boats.

The state currently ferries around 1.80 crore passengers annually through 36 water transport routes, of which 1.6 crore travellers use the 21 routes operating within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the release stated.

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The planned Mumbai Water Metro includes 21 terminals and a 200-nautical-mile network, and work on the detailed project report is presently under way.