Mumbai cruise terminal – Nitin Gadkari’s big Rs. 1,000 cr plan

Mumbai cruise terminal is going to be the next big thing in the tourism circuit very soon. The reason is obvious: there are more and more tourists in Mumbai who are willing to spend the moolah for the sake of luxury cruise tours. Realising the positive prospects of cruise tourism in Mumbai, the central government has decided to connect Mumbai with popular destinations all over India and also South East Asia. The government has invited private players to take part in this promising endeavour.

"We already sanctioned Rs 1,000 crore for a cruise terminal in Mumbai. Every year, we are receiving 80 cruise (liners). We expect it would rise to 950 cruise liners in next five years,” said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who is in-charge of road transport, highways, shipping and other related projects.

He further said that the government is relying on cruise tourism to be a turning point because it has the potential to create more employment opportunities. "Forty-nine percent of the investment in tourism is going to create employment," he shared with the press. It was also disclosed that the objective was to link Mumbai cruise to cities like Chennai, Cochin, Andamans and Nicobar Islands, Singapore and South East Asian countries.
Besides cruise from Mumbai, there will be ferry services to connect Kanyakumari and Rameswaram. “Pon Radhakrishnan (minister of state for shipping) has been discussing it with me for two years. We will immediately start Kanyakumari-Rameswaram (passenger ferry). We are inviting private operators to come forward,” Gadkari revealed.

The press meet was held on November 23, 2017.