Maharashtra’s INS Guldar project in Sindhudurg wins The Week Heritage Award 2026

Maharashtrarsquos marine tourism sector has received national recognition with the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporationrsquos MTDC INS Guldar project in Sindhudurg district winning the prestigious The Week Heritage Award Golden Banyan Award 2026Tourism Minister Shambhuraj Desai described the honour as a matter of pride for the state The project aims to establish Indiarsquos first underwater museum artificial reef and submarine tourism destinationThe award was presented by Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at a ceremony organised by The Week magazine at the Prime Ministersrsquo Museum and Library in New Delhi on October 27 MTDC Managing Director Nilesh Gatne received the awardSindhudurg Collector Trupti Dhodmise MTDC Regional Officer Deepak Mane Superintending Engineer Sanjay Patil Aquatic Tourism Senior Manager Kshipra Bora and Chief Accounts Officer Jitendra Sonawane were among those presentINS Guldar project to boost Sindhudurgrsquos tourism potentialDesai said the award marked an important milestone in Maharashtrarsquos tourism development He credited the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar for the statersquos tourism initiativesHe said the INS Guldar project combines conventional tourism with new experiences and could open up fresh opportunities for Sindhudurg The minister also congratulated the officers and employees involved in its developmentState aims to promote sustainable tourismTourism Secretary Sanjay Yadav said the award recognised Maharashtrarsquos efforts to develop innovative tourism projects that preserve marine heritage while promoting environmentally sustainable tourismHe added that the state was working to develop highquality tourism destinations capable of attracting visitors and gaining recognition internationallyProject expected to create opportunities for local businessesMTDC Managing Director Nilesh Gatne said the former Indian Navy vessel was being developed as a distinctive tourism attraction to strengthen Sindhudurgrsquos marine tourism sectorAccording to Gatne the project is expected to give the district a new tourism identity and create opportunities for local businesses including accommodation providers transport operators tourist guides and other service providersExINS Guldar being developed as an underwater attractionThe project is being developed by MTDC under the Maharashtra Tourism Department in coordination with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited The decommissioned naval vessel has been placed underwater near Nivati Rock off the Sindhudurg coastIt is being developed under the Union Tourism Ministryrsquos Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale scheme The Centre has allocated Rs 4691 crore for the project while the Maharashtra government has provided Rs 11246 croreThe Magarclass landing ship tank served the Indian Navy for 39 years before being decommissioned on January 12 2024 On May 19 2026 it was placed on the seabed at a depth of approximately 22 metres near Nivati Rock with assistance from Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders LimitedIts steel structure is expected to function as an artificial reef supporting marine biodiversity coral growth fishery resources and ecological balanceSubmarine tours scuba diving and underwater photography plannedVisitors will be able to travel to Nivati Rock by speedboat from a jetty and board a barge at the site The submerged vessel and surrounding marine life are expected to be explored through submarine tours and scubadiving experiencesPlanned activities include wreck diving submarine tours Discover Scuba Diving up to 12 metres certified dives up to 18 metres advanced diving experiences up to 30 metres underwater photography marine education and researchThe project draws inspiration from international wreckdiving destinations such as the USS Oriskany in Florida the United States and HMAS Swan in Australia It is envisioned as an underwater museum and artificial reef tourism destination that could put Sindhudurg on the map for marine tourism