Around five thousand years ago, the people of Lothal, a bustling port city of the Indus Valley Civilisation in what is now Gujarat, were said to have built one of the oldest known dockyards known to man. Today, on that same ground, India is constructing what is set to become the world’s biggest maritime museum complex. The first phase of its construction will now be complete by July this year.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, according to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, has directed officials to complete Phase 1A of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) project by July 2026.
What is the National Maritime Heritage Complex?
The NMHC at Lothal spans approximately 400 acres and has a total project cost of around ₹4,500 crore under the Sagarmala Programme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Phase 1A alone, targeted for July, will deliver six museum galleries, a recreation of the ancient Lothal township, aquatic and common area theming, a jetty walkway, and a display of Indian Navy artefacts.
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The next phase, Phase 1B, adds eight more galleries, a lighthouse museum, the Bageecha complex, and a 50-dome theatre, requiring an additional investment of approximately ₹3,000 crore.
The project has already drawn international attention. India has signed 10 MoUs with the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, South Korea, UAE, Portugal, Vietnam, Oman, Israel and Thailand, with four more nations (Italy, France, Myanmar and Cambodia) expected to follow.
Sonowal also directed closer coordination with the Ministries of Culture and Tourism and asked for a comprehensive events calendar to drive visitor footfall.
“The National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) is a landmark initiative to showcase India’s rich maritime legacy, and civilisational connect with the seas,” Sonowal stated, “...we are committed to developing NMHC as a world-class destination that celebrates our heritage while inspiring future generations. We must ensure timely completion with the highest standards of quality.”