Visakhapatnam, March 27 DCIL celebrated its 50th anniversary on Friday, outlining an ambitious expansion roadmap, a modernization push, and plans to achieve a turnover of ₹3,000 crore in the coming years.
Dredging Corporation of India Limited Managing Director and CEO Captain S Divakar said the company has strengthened its operational capabilities and is focusing on expanding its domestic and global presence.
"The company is targeting a turnover of ₹3,000 crore in the next 5–10 years, backed by a strong order book of around ₹1,400 crore and growing opportunities in the maritime sector," Divakar said at a press conference.
Established on March 29, 1976, DCIL has played a key role in supporting port infrastructure and maritime development across the country over the past five decades.
The company has significantly expanded from operating one or two dredgers to maintaining a modern fleet, enhancing its dredging depth capability to 25 metres from around 15 metres earlier.
Its hopper capacity has increased from 3,500 cubic metres to 12,000 cubic metres, while port depths at major ports across India have improved to nearly 22 metres.
DCIL's revenue has grown from about ₹200 crore in its early years to a record ₹1,146 crore, reflecting steady financial performance.
The company currently handles nearly 80 per cent of India's maintenance dredging, accounting for about 110 million cubic metres out of 150 million cubic metres annually.
However, its share in capital dredging remains around 10 per cent, and it plans to expand its presence in this segment.
DCIL has also expanded its global footprint with projects in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, emerging as a competitive Indian dredging player internationally.
The company is expected to benefit from national initiatives such as the Sagarmala Programme and major port development projects, including Vadhvan Port and Galathea Bay.
Aligned with Maritime India Vision 2030, DCIL plans to induct 11 new dredgers, including hopper dredgers, cutter suction dredgers, and specialized vessels.
It is also collaborating with domestic shipyards such as Cochin Shipyard, Hindustan Shipyard, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE), Goa Shipyard, and Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
Further, the company is diversifying into emerging areas such as submarine cable trenching, offshore wind energy support, and inland waterways development.
To support its expansion, DCIL is planning a ₹1,000 crore equity raise through a rights issue and aims to improve dredger productivity by around 15 per cent.
The company is also focusing on modernizing aging assets, strengthening maintenance systems, and addressing workforce requirements through hiring and training.
As part of its skill development initiatives, DCIL is reviving the All India Dredging Cadre, introducing simulator-based training with the Indian Maritime University, and setting up a centre in Kakinada.
Despite increasing competition from global players, the company continues to maintain a strong domestic position, backed by its experience and alignment with national priorities.