Mumbai— Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday inaugurated India’s largest cruise terminal, the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal (MICT), and flagged off its cruise operations. The state-of-the-art facility, developed under the Cruise Bharat Mission, is set to play a key role in positioning India as a global cruise tourism hub.
“In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming India into a global cruise destination, the launch of operations at MICT marks a major milestone,” said Minister Sonowal. “Mumbai, with its rich maritime legacy, now offers world-class infrastructure to enhance the cruise experience for domestic and international travelers.”
Located at Ballard Pier, MICT spans over 415,000 square feet. Its passenger processing area occupies more than 207,000 square feet and features 72 check-in and immigration counters. The terminal, spread across four floors, also includes commercial spaces and can accommodate up to five cruise ships simultaneously. With a draft of 11 meters and the ability to dock vessels up to 300 meters in length, MICT is designed to handle up to one million passengers annually—approximately 10,000 per day. It also offers parking for over 300 vehicles.
In addition to launching the terminal, Sonowal inaugurated several heritage and green initiatives. These included the restored Fire Memorial at Victoria Docks, the renovation of Fort House at Ballard Estate and Evelyn House at Colaba, and the opening of the Sagar Upvan Garden. The minister also launched the “Shore to Ship Electric Supply” system under the Green Port Initiative to promote environmentally sustainable port operations.
Highlighting India’s infrastructure expansion, Sonowal attended the signing of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) worth over ₹5,700 crore (approx. $684 million) for infrastructure development at Vadhavan Port. The agreements include:
- ₹4,200 crore for a terminal to handle container, bulk, and liquid cargo.
- ₹1,000 crore for a dedicated terminal for bulk and liquid cargo.
- ₹500 crore for a liquid cargo jetty and tank farm with 300,000 CBM capacity for handling chemicals and related products.
The Cruise Bharat Mission aims to revolutionize India’s cruise sector by 2029 with plans for:
- 10 international sea cruise terminals
- 100 river cruise terminals
- 5 marinas
- Integration of 5,000 km of navigable waterways
- 1 million sea cruise passengers and 1.5 million river cruise passengers annually
- Over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs across the cruise value chain
The MICT inauguration and new investment agreements mark significant steps in India’s efforts to boost coastal tourism, strengthen maritime infrastructure, and generate large-scale employment in the sector. (Source: IANS)
