In a boost to the cruise industry, PM Modi virtually inaugurated the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal. This marks a major milestone for MbPA and India’s tourism economy.
The Mumbai Port Authority has played a pioneering role in shaping the country’s cruise tourism. It has witnessed a yearly post-pandemic footfall of nearly 2.5 lakh passengers. With around 100 cruise arrivals covering both domestic and global routes.
Cruise Tourism Boosts India
Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said, “India in the 21st century views the ocean as a vast opportunity. Today, several projects worth thousands of crores were inaugurated and their foundation stones laid to accelerate port development. To encourage cruise tourism, an International Cruise Terminal has also been inaugurated in Mumbai.”
Developed under the Cruise Bharat Mission of September 2024, the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal (MICT) is built to world benchmarks.
Eventually, it will seek to elevate India’s global cruise tourism footprint.
Adesh Titarmare, Deputy Chairman of the Mumbai Port Authority, highlighted that the terminal reflects the Prime Minister’s vision of offering cruise experiences to common citizens.
He said, “We currently handle over 100 cruise arrivals annually and serve more than 1.5 lakh travellers. With the inauguration of this facility, the number of passengers will rise further. In the past decade, especially among the youth, interest in cruise travel has grown significantly.”
As part of the government’s roadmap to upgrade cruise infrastructure, the old 25,000 sq ft terminal at Ballard Pier has been redeveloped into India’s largest world-class cruise hub.
The project, costing approximately ₹556 crore, spans a built-up area of 4,15,000 sq ft.
Designed with the capacity to manage one million passengers annually, it can handle up to five ships at the same time, according to Titarmare.
The Chairperson of MbPA and the CEO of MMB formalised an MoU at the event to launch a major shipbuilding cluster in Maharashtra.
The event signified a turning point for India’s shipping and shipbuilding sector, rolling out major reforms to raise capacity.
It also reflected MbPA’s balanced growth approach, merging infrastructure development with sustainability and cultural heritage.
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