Inauguration of India's Premier Cruise Terminal, Rs 5,700 Cr Infrastructure Agreements at Vadhavan Port

Mumbai, April 21 (NationPress) Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, officially commenced cruise operations from the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal (MICT), the largest of its kind in India.

The MICT, developed under the Cruise Bharat Mission, adheres to the latest international standards and aims to significantly enhance cruise tourism in India, as stated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

"It is essential that we strive to fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of establishing Bharat as a global cruise center with cutting-edge infrastructure. Today, Mumbai, known globally as a significant maritime hub, has initiated Cruise Operations from the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal, offering passengers modern amenities for an improved and safer experience," Union Minister Sonowal remarked during the event.

Covering a built-up area exceeding 415,000 square feet, the MICT is located at Ballard Pier. It features 72 check-in and immigration counters spanning 207,000 square feet on the first two floors (G+1), while the upper two floors (2+3) serve as commercial spaces.

The newly opened MICT is designed to accommodate 1 million passengers annually, with an estimated 10,000 passengers daily. It can simultaneously handle 5 ships, with a draft of 11 meters and a length of up to 300 meters. Additionally, it offers parking for over 300 vehicles at once.

The Union Minister also inaugurated the renovated Fire Memorial at Victoria Docks, along with two heritage buildings — Fort House at Ballard Estate and Evelyn House at Colaba.

Sonowal also launched the Sagar Upvan garden and the ‘Shore to Ship Electric Supply’ as part of the Green Port Initiative.

Moreover, the minister witnessed the signing of MoUs for infrastructure projects at Vadhavan Port, with an investment exceeding Rs 5,700 crore.

The agreements involve developing a terminal for container, bulk, and liquid cargo with a budget of Rs 4,200 crore, a dedicated terminal for bulk and liquid cargo with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore, and the construction of a liquid cargo jetty and tank farm with a 300,000 CBM capacity for liquefied chemicals and related products, costing Rs 500 crore.

The Cruise Bharat Mission has set ambitious targets, including the establishment of 10 international sea cruise terminals, the creation of 100 river cruise terminals, the launch of 5 marinas along the coastline, seamless integration of over 5,000 km of waterways, and the aim to attract 1 million sea cruise and 1.5 million river cruise passengers by 2029, generating more than 400,000 direct and indirect jobs across the cruise value chain.