L&T unveils ₹1,000 crore expansion plan for Katupalli shipyard

Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) has unveiled plans to invest ₹1,000 crore in expanding its shipbuilding complex at Katupalli, Tamil Nadu, aiming to achieve its full production potential. Although the facility secured Environment and Coastal Regulation Zone clearances in 2009—permitting annual output of 50,000 tonnes for its Modular Fabrication Facility (MFF), along with 25 ship constructions and 60 repairs—the current infrastructure has proven insufficient to meet these targets. To bridge the gap, L&T intends to initiate further development activities at the Katupalli site.

The document also highlights that the proposed facilities will enable L&T to achieve its target production capacity—50,000 tonnes annually for its Modular Fabrication Facility (MFF), along with the construction of 25 ships and repair of 60 vessels per year. Development work is expected to commence in October, with completion projected within three years.

The proposed development will be undertaken within the existing 892.11-acre expanse owned by L&T at Katupalli, Tamil Nadu. According to the document, the expansion plan includes the establishment of additional fabrication units, paint and assembly shops, blasting bays, residential quarters, office buildings, warehouse sheds, a skill development center, and landscaping for greenbelt enhancement. Currently, L&T’s Katupalli shipyard handles approximately 30 ship repairs and constructs 15 new vessels annually. Company officials declined to comment on the matter. Notably, in 2019, the facility became the first Indian shipyard to receive a five-star rating from the British Safety Council’s Occupational Health and Safety Audit, placing it among an elite group of shipyards worldwide.

L&T’s Katupalli facility in Tamil Nadu is located about 40 km north of Chennai. It is a greenfield shipyard having a a dedicated design centre for warships. This shipyard has multiple dry berths and wet berths that enable concurrent construction and repairs of multiple vessels, along with modular construction of ships.