Maharashtra government plans to develop and operate four state-run ports across the Konkan belt, with one each in Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts. State ports minister Nitesh Rane said the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) was preparing the project blueprint. The initiative is part of the Viksit Maharashtra 2047 programme.

The proposal would mark a change from the state’s existing port-development model, under which public coastal land has been leased to private companies. Those operators develop and run the facilities, manage logistics and pay royalties to the government. Rane said the ports department currently receives about Rs. 2.5 bn a year from royalties generated by 48 non-major ports and jetties across Maharashtra.

The proposed public-sector model is intended to increase the state’s direct participation in port operations and improve revenue generation. Based on preliminary estimates, the four projects could generate close to Rs. 50 bn for the government, according to Rane. The minister’s assessment positions the ports department as a potential major source of non-tax income, although project details and implementation timelines have not been disclosed.

The planned facilities are separate from Vadhvan Port, which is being developed near Dahanu in Palghar district. Maharashtra holds a 26 per cent stake in the project, whose total cost is Rs. 760 bn. Construction began in August 2024, and completion is scheduled for 2030. The port is expected to become an important source of non-tax revenue for the state.

The four proposed ports would extend the government’s role beyond regulatory oversight and royalty collection. Their development would require decisions on land use, financing, cargo handling, connectivity and operating arrangements, but the state has not announced those details. The MMB’s blueprint is expected to set out the locations, investment requirements and execution structure for the projects.