The Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) will manufacture all its dredgers within the country as part of the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat Initiative, CEO & MD Captain S. Divakar announced.
He said contracts for building dredgers have already been awarded to Hindustan Shipyard Limited and other domestic shipyards, marking a significant step toward strengthening India’s indigenous shipbuilding capabilities.
Divakar added that advanced dredgers will also be developed through collaborations with foreign partners, ensuring access to modern technology while maintaining domestic production. In addition, world-class training institutions are set to be established across ports in Andhra Pradesh under agreements with the state government, aimed at enhancing skill development in the maritime sector.
Launched in 2020 by the Government of India, the Atmanirbhar Bharat Initiative is designed to boost economic self-reliance, resilience, and sustainable growth. The programme focuses on strengthening domestic manufacturing, services, finance, and technology sectors while remaining integrated with global value chains.
In the broader economic context, the initiative represents a structural shift toward building internal capacity, reducing external vulnerabilities, and improving the efficiency of financial intermediation across the Indian economy.