Maharashtra to Develop ₹150 Crore Electric Boat Manufacturing Hub for Mumbai Water Metro
Maharashtra is taking a significant step towards strengthening its maritime manufacturing and sustainable transport ecosystem with plans to establish a ₹150 crore electric boat manufacturing facility in Sindhudurg.
The Maharashtra Maritime Board has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Zoya Marine Services Private Limited for the supply of modern vessels to the Mumbai Water Metro project and the development of an advanced electric boat manufacturing facility in the state.
The agreement was signed at Mantralaya in the presence of Maharashtra Fisheries and Ports Minister Nitesh Rane.
A 22-Acre Electric Boat Manufacturing Facility in Sindhudurg
The proposed manufacturing facility will be developed at Talawane in Sawantwadi taluka of Sindhudurg district.
Spread across nearly 22 acres, the project will involve an estimated investment of approximately ₹150 crore and will focus on manufacturing technologically advanced and environmentally sustainable vessels.
The facility is expected to support the vessel requirements of the Mumbai Water Metro while also creating a long-term manufacturing base for electric and green marine transport solutions.
The project represents an important move towards developing domestic capabilities in advanced shipbuilding and reducing dependence on imported vessels and maritime technologies.
Supporting the Mumbai Water Metro Project
The vessels manufactured under the agreement will be supplied for the Mumbai Water Metro, one of Maharashtra’s most ambitious urban transport projects.
The proposed Water Metro network is expected to span approximately 340 kilometres, comprising 33 water routes and 44 terminals. The project will require around 203 environment-friendly electric and hybrid vessels and is estimated to involve an investment of approximately ₹6,066 crore.
Once developed, the network is expected to become one of the world’s largest water metro systems and could benefit nearly 75 million passengers by 2031.
The project aims to reduce pressure on Mumbai’s overcrowded road and rail networks by integrating the city’s coastline, creeks, ports, and waterways into the public transport system.
It is also expected to shorten travel times, reduce congestion, lower emissions, and provide a cleaner mobility alternative for commuters across Mumbai and neighbouring areas.
Focus on Green Maritime Transport
The electric boat manufacturing project reflects Maharashtra’s broader commitment to sustainable and environment-friendly transportation.
Electric and hybrid vessels can significantly reduce fuel consumption, carbon emissions, noise pollution, and operating costs when compared with conventional diesel-powered ferries.
By manufacturing these vessels within the state, Maharashtra can develop a domestic ecosystem for electric propulsion systems, marine batteries, charging infrastructure, vessel design, maintenance, repair, and maritime engineering.
The project is also expected to encourage the adoption of modern shipbuilding technologies and position Maharashtra as an emerging hub for green marine mobility.
Boost to Sindhudurg’s Industrial Economy
The decision to locate the manufacturing hub in Sindhudurg could have a meaningful impact on the coastal district’s industrial and employment landscape.
The facility is expected to generate employment opportunities for local youth while creating demand for skilled professionals across engineering, welding, fabrication, marine electronics, electrical systems, automation, vessel assembly, testing, maintenance, and logistics.
The project could also support skill development programmes and encourage collaboration between manufacturers, technical institutes, maritime organisations, and local training centres.
Beyond direct employment, the manufacturing facility could attract ancillary suppliers and service providers involved in:
Marine-grade steel and aluminium
Batteries and electric propulsion systems
Electrical and electronic equipment
Precision engineering and fabrication
Navigation and communication technology
Safety systems and marine interiors
Testing, repair and maintenance services
Logistics and supply chain operations
This could gradually create a broader maritime manufacturing cluster in the Konkan region.
Strengthening Maharashtra’s Maritime Economy
Speaking at the signing, Ports Minister Nitesh Rane said the project would provide a new boost to Maharashtra’s maritime economy.
The initiative aligns with the state government’s efforts to attract investments into shipbuilding, port infrastructure, coastal transportation, and maritime technology.
The discussions surrounding the project also covered investment planning, technical collaboration, skill development, employment generation, implementation timelines, and the future expansion of Maharashtra’s maritime industry.
The project is expected to improve the quality of the state’s maritime infrastructure while promoting industrial development across coastal regions.
The Industrial Real Estate Opportunity
From an industrial real estate perspective, the project represents more than the construction of a single manufacturing facility.
Electric boat manufacturing requires specialised industrial infrastructure, including:
Large land parcels with appropriate industrial zoning
Proximity to coastal and inland waterways
Heavy fabrication and assembly facilities
High-capacity power infrastructure
Testing and launching infrastructure
Storage yards and component warehouses
Logistics connectivity for oversized equipment
Skilled workforce availability
Supporting maintenance and service facilities
The establishment of a 22-acre manufacturing hub could generate demand for ancillary industrial units, supplier parks, warehousing facilities, workforce housing, transportation infrastructure, and supporting commercial development.
As maritime manufacturing expands, coastal industrial zones could emerge as an important new category within India’s industrial real estate landscape.
Building a Domestic Green Shipbuilding Ecosystem
India’s growing focus on sustainable transportation is creating opportunities beyond electric vehicles and renewable energy.
Green maritime mobility is emerging as another important segment, supported by investments in electric ferries, hybrid vessels, port electrification, battery technology, shipbuilding, and coastal transport infrastructure.
The proposed Sindhudurg facility could become an important foundation for building domestic capabilities across this value chain.
If successfully implemented, the project may also support the manufacture of vessels for other Indian cities exploring water-based public transport and potentially create export opportunities for Indian-built electric boats.
A New Chapter for Maritime Manufacturing
Maharashtra’s ₹150 crore electric boat manufacturing hub marks an important convergence of urban mobility, industrial manufacturing, sustainability, and coastal economic development.
For Mumbai, it supports the creation of a modern and cleaner public transport network.
For Sindhudurg, it creates an opportunity to build a new industrial ecosystem based on shipbuilding and marine technology.
For Maharashtra, it strengthens the state’s position within India’s growing maritime economy.
As the Mumbai Water Metro moves towards implementation, the Sindhudurg manufacturing facility could become a key enabler of the project and an important catalyst for the next phase of green maritime manufacturing in India.
