Development of the Konkan Maritime Cluster had been progressing in a slow mode since its launch in 2020. This is India’s first maritime cluster, and is expected to be fully commissioned by the year end. The project has now started gathering pace in the year 2024 as the government has called for bids for supply of machinery and other infrastructure works for the project.
In all, six tenders have been floated by the directorate of industries, trade & commerce (DITC) for the purchase of machinery, painting booth, industrial waste disposal plant, equipment testing facility, and other related services for the cluster.
The tenders valued at around Rs.13 crore are part of the project outlay of Rs.16.21 crore which includes the cost of the land and the expenditure incurred on the work-shed.
The project particularly aims to boost shipping and shipbuilding industry in the state. It further details creation of common facilities for shipbuilders and also companies operating in the maritime sector that want to use the services of the cluster.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant recently said the maritime cluster is expected to generate at least 3,000 jobs. He disclosed that the project was delayed by the Covid pandemic as also by the recession in the maritime sector.
Furthermore local MSMEs, which are members of the special purpose vehicle (SPV), found it difficult to contribute towards the share capital as their businesses were adversely affected by the economic slowdown. Construction of the work-shed by the MSME members of the cluster is a prerequisite for the government to chip in with funds.
“The project slowed down because of development of the land. The construction of a work-shed took some time. However, the project is set to take off as the shed construction is nearly complete,” explained the source. The maritime cluster is being completed in phases, and the first phase is expected to be completed by April this year. The second phase, comprising purchase of computers, software packages, etc, will kick in after a few months.
The KMC is being set up under the cluster development scheme (CDS) of the MSME ministry. It is the first MSME cluster in the state. To set up the cluster, local MSMEs applied for industrial plots in the Verna Industrial Estate.
The project was launched in June 2020 in the 14,380 sq. m of land allotted by the GIDC. Cluster facilities are for design and manufacture of ships and other marine vessels.
The maritime cluster is being implemented by the Khadi and Village Industries Board, Goa, while the DITC is the nodal agency for it.
“The SPV presently comprises around 36 members, which is expected to go up to 110 members once the project is completed,” said an official in KVIC-Goa.
