M Angamuthu, Chairman, Dredging Corporation of India
The Dredging Corporation of India (DCIL) is gearing as much as construct capability to meet the nation’s entire dredging necessities by 2030, in line with its Chairman, M Angamuthu.
Speaking to businessline on the event of the corporate’s golden jubilee celebrations on Sunday, Angamuthu stated DCIL at the moment handles practically 80 per cent of India’s upkeep dredging wants, protecting round 120 million cubic metres yearly throughout main ports.
Founded in 1976 with restricted assets and a small fleet of inland dredgers, DCIL has considerably expanded its capabilities over the many years. “With the induction of new-generation 12,000 cubic metre hopper dredgers, we are poised to bridge the remaining gap and aim to handle 100 per cent of India’s dredging requirements by 2030,” he stated.
The firm has advanced from working inland dredgers to deploying superior Trailing Suction Hopper Dredgers (TSHDs), enhancing each its technical experience and operational attain.
Growth features
Looking past 2030, Angamuthu stated progress prospects stay sturdy. With new main port developments comparable to Vadhavan Port, Tuticorin Outer Harbour, and Galathea Bay, demand for upkeep dredging is predicted to rise by an extra 20–30 million cubic metres yearly.
DCIL is well-positioned to cater to this incremental demand and play a key function in supporting India’s maritime enlargement, he added.
“We envision DCIL as a globally recognised leader in dredging services, extending our expertise beyond national boundaries and contributing to sustainable maritime infrastructure worldwide. This 50-year journey would not have been possible without the dedication of our employees, the guidance of stakeholders, and the support of promoter ports and clients,” he stated.
The Dredging Corporation of India (DCIL) has transitioned from a completely government-owned entity right into a public restricted firm with a robust shareholder base of round 45,000, in line with its Chairman, M Angamuthu.
Reflecting its progress trajectory, the corporate’s market capitalisation has risen from about ₹1,000 crore to ₹2,300 crore. Turnover has expanded sharply from a modest ₹15 crore in 1976-77 to ₹1,148 crore in 2024-25.
DCIL’s current fleet includes 9 Trailing Suction Hopper Dredgers (TSHDs), with a mixed hopper capability of 54,500 cubic metres and an annual dredging capability of round 55 million cubic metres.
The firm is focusing on a greater than two-fold improve in turnover—from ₹1,148 crore in 2024-25 to ₹3,000 crore over the following 5 to 6 years—pushed by new upkeep dredging contracts, reclamation tasks, and diversification into dams and reservoirs.
“This aligns with the Sagarmala Programme, under which dredging demand is expected to reach 200–250 million cubic metres annually by 2030, supported by port expansions and infrastructure investments of about ₹80 lakh crore,” Angamuthu stated.
Fleet modernisation and adoption of inexperienced applied sciences are anticipated to additional improve capability, alongside scaling up manpower to help expanded operations.
With an funding outlay of ₹4,000 crore below the Government of India’s Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision, DCIL is coming into a brand new section of modernisation. “This infusion will enhance capacity, promote ‘Make in India’, enable adoption of green technologies, and help build a future-ready ecosystem, including the recent induction of the 12,000 cubic metre hopper dredger Dredge Godavari from Cochin Shipyard Ltd ,” he added.
Published on March 29, 2026