From the brink of insolvency to the forefront of India’s inland waterways revival, Dharti Dredging & Infrastructure Ltd (DDIL) is scripting an impressive comeback. Riding high on a wave of strategic restructuring, leadership renewal, and growing infrastructure demand, the company has set its sights on Rs 90 crore in revenue for the financial year 2025–26 — a figure it expects to double by FY27.
This dramatic turnaround began in July 2023, when the Yogayatan Group acquired DDIL through a court-approved resolution plan under the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). At the time, the company was saddled with financial stress and an uncertain future. But under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Ameya Pratap Singh, who stepped in as Managing Director, the narrative changed quickly and decisively.
“Resilience is built when the mission goes beyond just business. We set out not to revive a company, but to reposition it as a national enabler for India’s inland logistics infrastructure,” said Dr. Singh.
Over the past year, DDIL has undergone operational transformation — streamlining project execution, reinforcing compliance and governance, and realigning resources for maximum delivery efficiency. These moves are already paying off.
In 2024, DDIL secured several large-value dredging contracts across key inland water corridors, including the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers. The company is now working on projects awarded by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and key assignments on the India–Bangladesh Protocol Route, some of which are supported by multilateral agencies like the World Bank.
Today, DDIL boasts a project pipeline worth over Rs 1,000 crore, placing it on a strong growth trajectory. With India aggressively promoting its national waterways to decongest roads and railways, the demand for reliable private players in the sector is only growing — and DDIL is well-positioned to lead this evolution.
Industry experts are calling the company’s revival a “model case” in India’s infrastructure recovery landscape — not just for the successful implementation of the insolvency resolution framework, but for how it demonstrates the role of clear vision and strategic execution in value restoration.
As DDIL expands its presence across eastern India and strengthens cross-border connectivity efforts, it is fast emerging as a key player in India’s inland transport transformation, proving that with the right stewardship, even legacy companies can reinvent themselves for the future.
