India's Cochin Shipyard has been given government approval to take over compatriot yard Hooghly Dock & Port Engineers.
It will focus on upgrading and modernising infrastructure at sites in Salkia and Nazirgunge in Kolkata.
Cochin will have a 76% stake, with Hooghly having the rest.
The plan is to make barges at Hooghly.
TradeWinds has previously reported that Cochin will spend its $229m IPO cash on four new shipbuilding and repair yards.