Why in news
- Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways chaired the 2nd Governing Council meeting of the National Maritime Heritage Complex Society to review construction progress at Lothal.
Key terms
Lothal
A prominent southern-most city of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation featuring the world's oldest known artificial dockyard.
What is the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC)?
- A major cultural and infrastructure project situated at the Harappan site of Lothal, Gujarat, aimed at displaying India's 5,000-year maritime heritage.
- Functioning under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), it integrates museum blocks, research facilities, and theme parks.
International Collaborations and Status
- 13 nations including Portugal, UAE, Netherlands, and Denmark have signed MoUs for artifact exchanges, research, and ship model displays.
- Phase 1A of construction has achieved over 80 percent physical completion.
Prelims facts
- NMHC is located at Lothal, Gujarat under the administrative control of MoPSW.
Mains discussion
- Leveraging ancient heritage sites for modern cultural diplomacy and maritime tourism.
Source: PIB
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