Sindhudurg's INS Guldar underwater project wins The Week Heritage Award for Maharashtra

Maharashtra's marine tourism sector has won national recognition. The INS Guldar project of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) in Sindhudurg district has been announced as a winner of The Week Heritage Award - Golden Banyan Award 2026.

The Week magazine organised the event at the Prime Minister's Museum and Library in New Delhi on October 27. Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat presented the award, which MTDC Managing Director Nilesh Gatne received. Sindhudurg District Collector Trupti Dhodmise, MTDC regional officer Deepak Mane, Superintending Engineer Sanjay Patil, Senior Manager (water tourism) Kshipra Bora and Chief Accounts Officer Jitendra Sonawane were present.

Tourism Minister Shambhuraj Desai said the honour was a matter of pride for the state. He said the project aims to create India's first underwater museum, an artificial reef and a submarine tourism site, and called it an important milestone in Maharashtra's tourism development. He said the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar had given momentum to the state's tourism initiatives.

According to Desai, the project adds new experiences to traditional tourism and can create new opportunities for Sindhudurg. He congratulated the officials and staff involved in building the project.

Tourism Secretary Sanjay Yadav said the award recognises Maharashtra's efforts to create new tourism projects that preserve maritime heritage without harming the environment. He said the state is working to build high-quality tourist destinations that will attract visitors and gain international recognition.

MTDC Managing Director Nilesh Gatne said the former Indian Navy vessel is being developed as a distinct tourist attraction to strengthen Sindhudurg's marine tourism. According to Gatne, the project will give the district a new tourism identity and create opportunities for local businesses such as accommodation providers, transporters, tourist guides and other service providers.

MTDC is implementing the project under the Maharashtra tourism department in coordination with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited. The decommissioned Navy ship has been placed underwater near Nivati Rock off the Sindhudurg coast. The project is being built under the Union tourism ministry's scheme, Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment: Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale. The Centre has given Rs 46.91 crore for it and the Maharashtra government Rs 112.46 crore.

The vessel, a landing ship tank of the Magar class, served in the Indian Navy for 39 years and was decommissioned on January 12, 2024. On May 19, 2026, it was placed on the seabed at a depth of about 22 metres near Nivati Rock with the help of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited. The ship's steel structure is expected to work like an artificial reef and contribute to marine biodiversity, coral growth, fish stocks and ecological balance.

Tourists will travel by speedboat from the tourist jetty to Nivati Rock and board a barge there. The submerged ship and the surrounding marine life can be seen through submarine rides and scuba diving. Planned activities include wreck diving, submarine rides, discover scuba diving up to 12 metres, certified dives up to 18 metres, advanced diving experiences up to 30 metres, underwater photography, and marine education and research.

The project draws inspiration from international wreck-diving sites such as USS Oriskany in Florida, United States, and HMAS Swan in Australia. The idea is to put Sindhudurg on the marine tourism map with an underwater museum and artificial reef.