Lothal has waited nearly 5,000 years for this moment. The world’s oldest known dockyard, tucked into Gujarat’s Bhal region just a short drive from Dholera SIR, is being rebuilt into a global maritime destination — and the numbers now say it is closer than most people realise.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal chaired the second Governing Council meeting of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) Society on Friday, where members reviewed construction progress, international partnerships and the infrastructure feeding into the site. The headline figure: Phase 1A has crossed roughly 82 per cent physical progress.

For anyone tracking land, tourism or infrastructure in this corridor, this update matters. At Angel Nova Group, we have spent five years watching Dholera SIR and its surrounding belt move from paper to concrete, and NMHC Lothal is one of the clearest signals yet that the region’s growth story is not slowing down.

NMHC Lothal Phase 1A Is Now 82% Complete

The Governing Council was informed that Phase 1A of the National Maritime Heritage Complex has achieved close to 82 per cent physical progress, with the revised completion target set for 31 October 2026.

Sonowal called NMHC one of the most significant cultural and maritime initiatives ever undertaken by the Government of India, and said the project is designed to establish Lothal as a globally recognised centre for maritime heritage, knowledge, education and tourism.

That framing is important. This is not being built as a single museum. It is being positioned as a destination — the kind that pulls in domestic tourists, international delegations, researchers and students year after year. Destinations of that scale reshape everything around them: roads, hotels, retail, service employment and, inevitably, land values.

The Minister also recalled the vision and direction set by the Governing Council during its first meeting in June 2025, noting that the project has moved steadily since.

13 Countries Sign MoUs for Collaboration with NMHC

One of the strongest takeaways from the review was the international response. Thirteen countries have already signed MoUs for collaboration with NMHC: Portugal, the UAE, Vietnam, Thailand, the Netherlands, Denmark, Oman, Israel, Germany, the Republic of Korea, Italy, New Zealand and Singapore.

Discussions are underway with several more nations, and the project is targeting a pipeline of over 35 international partnerships.

These are not ceremonial agreements. Sonowal said the collaborations will enable the exchange of artefacts, replicas and ship models, support joint research partnerships and drive cultural engagement — while also strengthening India’s maritime diplomacy.

Put simply, a site that draws thirteen (and eventually thirty-plus) national partners becomes a fixture on the international circuit. That kind of visibility is rare for any Indian district, and Lothal now has it.

The NMHC Society has also completed key statutory registrations, including income tax exemption, CSR and Darpan registrations — steps that strengthen its institutional framework and open the door to future resource mobilisation through CSR funding and partnerships.

1,492 Artefacts Ready as Minister Pushes for Faster Construction

Reviewing construction, Sonowal directed implementing agencies to maintain strict supervision and hold firm to the 31 October deadline.

The Council was told that Galleries 4 and 6, Lothal Town and Aquatic Theming are among the components still pending completion. These are among the most visitor-facing elements of the complex, which is why the Minister pressed for tighter oversight.

He also took note of 1,492 artefacts already readied for installation, calling for expedited approvals so that exhibits can be commissioned in time for visitor operations.

That detail tells you how far along the project really is. When artefact curation is done and waiting on clearance rather than acquisition, the finish line is genuinely in view.

Phase 1B and Phase 2: Lighthouse Museum, 5D Theatre and a Research Institute

The Governing Council also reviewed the next phases, and the scope is considerably larger than Phase 1A.

Phase 1B and Phase 2 are proposed to include:

• Additional galleries
• A 5D Dome Theatre
• A Coastal States Pavilion
• A Lighthouse Museum
• A Maritime Research Institute (MRI)
• A Museotel
• An Eco Resort

The Lighthouse Museum is being planned in collaboration with the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL), and has the potential to become the world’s tallest lighthouse museum — a genuine landmark asset for Gujarat.

The Maritime Research Institute, developed with the Indian Maritime University (IMU), is intended to deepen academic and research engagement with India’s maritime heritage. A research institute means resident faculty, visiting scholars and students — a permanent population, not just footfall.

The Museotel and Eco Resort round out the hospitality layer, signalling that overnight stays are being planned for from the start.

Dholera Expressway Complete; High-Speed Rail Plan Finalised

For investors, this section of the review is arguably the most consequential.

The Council confirmed that the Dholera Expressway has been completed, and that a plan for the high-speed rail corridor has been finalised. Excavation work at Lothal by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has reached around 70 per cent.

The Government of Gujarat is backing the project with connectivity, power, water supply and visitor amenities, while the Governing Council approved the proposed NMHC Bye-laws, providing a governance framework for the Society’s transition into a fully operational institution.

Look at what is converging within a single corridor: a completed expressway, a finalised high-speed rail plan, the Dholera International Airport nearing readiness, and a world-class heritage destination opening in 2026. Infrastructure clusters like this are exactly what drive long-term land appreciation — and they rarely arrive all at once.

What NMHC Lothal Means for Dholera SIR Land Investors

Lothal and Dholera SIR share the same road, the same airport and increasingly the same growth curve.

Tourism infrastructure creates demand that industrial development alone does not. A heritage complex of this scale generates requirements for hotels, restaurants, retail, transport services, guide and hospitality employment, and weekend-home demand from Ahmedabad and Vadodara. All of that lands on real estate.

Sonowal attributed the project’s momentum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, saying: “Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Modi, we are not just building a museum at Lothal, we are reviving five thousand years of India’s maritime civilisation and presenting it to the world.”

The Minister thanked the NMHC team, Indian Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation Limited (IPRCL), the Government of Gujarat, the Indian Navy, IMU, major ports and partner ministries, and expressed confidence that NMHC will emerge as a global landmark celebrating India’s maritime legacy and future ambitions.

For buyers, the practical point is timing. Land near a project tends to reprice around visible milestones — completion, inauguration, first full tourist season. Phase 1A is targeting October 2026.

Angel Nova Group Projects Near Dholera and Lothal

Angel Nova Group has been building in Dholera SIR since 2018, with 7+ years of experience, 6 premium townships, 345+ plots delivered and 306+ investors across India, Singapore, the Middle East and Europe. Every project is developed on government-approved NA/NOC land with clear title, single FP plots and zero litigation.

Our current portfolio in the Dholera–Lothal belt includes:

• Angel Aerocity — Pachchham Village. Premium township in a high-demand zone near the Expressway and the upcoming international airport. Clear title, plan-pass approved, strong appreciation potential.
• Angel Riveria — TP2 Residential Zone. Luxury plotting township with internal roads, street lighting, clubhouse zone and 75+ amenities. Limited inventory remaining.
• Angel Palm Dholera — Kamiyala Village. Serene residential plots in a green, upcoming residential zone with strong connectivity.
• Angel Orchid Villa — Kharar Village. NA/NOC-approved plotting project designed for independent villas and weekend homes.
• Angel Shivalya — successfully delivered, with a happy investor community.
• Bulk Land Investment — large parcels for institutional, hospitality and commercial buyers.

We also run a dedicated NRI Investor Desk offering virtual site visits, online booking support, legal documentation and payment assistance.

Book Your Site Visit

NMHC Lothal opens a new chapter for this region, and the corridor around it is changing quickly. If you are evaluating plots in Dholera SIR, the best way to judge is to stand on the land yourself.

Angel Nova Group offers free site visit assistance, complete legal verification support and honest guidance on which project fits your budget and timeline.

Visit angdholera.com | Call +91-9266-337671 | Email info@angdholera.com

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