Kerala gears up for major shipbuilding yard at Ponnani port under PPP model

A significant shipbuilding facility is set to rise at Ponnani port in Malappuram district, marking Kerala’s second major yard after Kochi and injecting fresh momentum into the Malabar region’s economy. Spanning 29 acres of coastal land west of the Ponnani Fishing Harbour under Kerala Maritime Board oversight, the project will proceed via a public-private partnership (PPP) model, with tenders completed and a private partner agreement expected within two weeks.​

Implementation unfolds in two phases: the initial stage invests Rs 200 crore to construct small vessels, including a new wharf near the breakwater at the estuary and relocation of existing fish markets to the harbour’s eastern side. Phase two ramps up with Rs 1,000 crore over seven to ten years for larger ship construction, aiming to elevate Ponnani as the state’s premier shipbuilding hub post-Kochi.​

Complementing the yard, a dedicated shipbuilding training institute will launch alongside early cargo-handling operations, projecting around 1,000 direct jobs in construction, operations, and maritime skills. Ponnani MLA P. Nandakumar hailed it as a transformative step for local development, urging community backing for seamless execution.​