MoPSW to Develop National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal

Padmesh Prabhune

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) is developing a National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) a world-class facility at Lothal, Gujarat, under the aegis of the Sagarmala programme.

To ensure things stay on schedule an onsite project progress review meeting will be held on 2nd July 2023 at Lothal, Gujarat. The project will be reviewed by Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel, the Chief Minister of Gujarat; Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH; Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers; Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Tourism; and Shri Shantanu Thakur, Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

NMHC will be developed as an international tourist destination, where the maritime heritage of India from ancient to modern times will be showcased and an edutainment approach using the latest technology will be adopted to spread awareness about India’s maritime past.

The complex, work on which started in March 2022, is being developed at a cost of around Rs 4500 crores. It will have several innovative and unique features such as a Lothal mini-recreation of Harappan architecture and lifestyle; four theme parks – a Memorial theme park, a Maritime & Navy theme park, a Climate theme park and an Adventure & Amusement theme park; fourteen galleries highlighting India’s maritime heritage, starting from the Harappan times till now; and a Coastal states pavilion, displaying the diverse maritime heritage of states and UTs; amongst several other feature displays.

The maritime complex will include the world’s highest light house museum, world’s largest open aquatic gallery, India’s grandest naval museum, and is envisaged to be one of the biggest international tourist destinations in the world.

The NHMC will boost the tourism potential, further augmenting the economic development of the region.

-Marex Media