Union Cabinet approves development of National Maritime Heritage Complex in Gujarat

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) in Gujarat’s Lothal on Wednesday.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the museum at Lothal will be the largest maritime heritage complex in the world.

Briefing the media after the Union Cabinet meeting, Vaishnaw said, “Today, the Cabinet approved the development of a National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal in Gujarat. The proposal aims to showcase India’s rich and diverse maritime heritage and create the largest maritime heritage complex in the world.”

The maritime project at Lothal will be completed in two phases. The Union Cabinet has granted in-principle approval for Phases 1B and 2, based on the master plan. Funds will be raised through voluntary contributions, and construction will commence once the necessary resources are secured.

The construction of the Lighthouse Museum under Phase 1B will be funded by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL).

A separate society will be established for the development of future phases, governed by a Governing Council headed by the Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. This body will oversee the implementation, development, management, and operation of the NMHC at Lothal, Gujarat.

Phase 1A of the project is currently underway, with over 60% of the physical work completed. It is expected to be finished by 2025. Phases 1A and 1B will be developed in EPC mode, while Phase 2 will be developed through land subleasing or a public-private partnership (PPP) to establish NMHC as a world-class heritage museum.

The development of the NMHC project is expected to create around 22,000 jobs, with 15,000 direct and 7,000 indirect employment opportunities.

Furthermore, the implementation of NMHC aims to boost growth and significantly benefit local communities, tourists, researchers, scholars, government bodies, educational institutions, cultural organisations, environmental and conservation groups, and businesses.

Phase 1A will feature an NMHC museum with six galleries, including an Indian Navy & Coast Guard gallery, which is expected to be one of the largest in the country. It will showcase external naval artefacts, a replica model of Lothal township surrounded by an open aquatic gallery, and a jetty walkway.

Phase 1B will add eight more galleries, a Lighthouse Museum, which is planned to be the world’s tallest, a Bagicha complex with parking for about 1,500 cars, a food hall, and a medical centre.

Phase 2 will include Coastal State Pavilions developed by respective coastal states and union territories, a hospitality zone featuring a maritime-themed eco-resort and “museotels,” a recreation of the real-time Lothal city, a maritime institute and hostel, and four theme-based parks.