On April 21, 2025, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), flagged off Cruise Operations from the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal (MICT), the largest world-class cruise terminal in India, located at Ballard Pier, Mumbai (Maharashtra).
- The event also featured the inauguration of renovated heritage buildings, the launch of a Shore-to-Ship Electric Supply system under the Green Port Initiative, and the opening of the Sagar Upvan Garden. Additionally, Memorandum of Understandings(MoUs) worth Rs. 5,700 crores were signed for infrastructure development at Vadhavan Port, Maharashtra.
Key People:
The event was attended by Union Minister of State (MoS) Shantanu Thakur, MoPSW; Sushil Kumar Singh (IRSME), Chairman of Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA); Adesh Titarmare, Deputy Chairman of MbPA; Unmesh Sharad Wagh, Chairman of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), and Dhruv Kotak, Managing Director (MD) of J.M. Baxi, among other dignitaries.
About Mumbai International Cruise Terminal (MICT):
i.MICT has been developed at a total cost of Rs. 556 crore under the Cruise Bharat Mission in line with global standards to promote cruise tourism in India.
ii.Spread over a built-up area of over 4,15,000 square feet (sq. ft.), MICT is designed to handle 1 million passengers annually, with a capacity of 10,000 passengers per day.
iii.The terminal can accommodate 5 cruise ships simultaneously, with an 11-meter (m) draft and up to 300 m vessel length.
iv.The Ground + 1 Floors (2,07,000 sq. ft) are equipped with 72 check-in and immigration counters, and Floors 2 and 3 serve as commercial spaces.The parking area can accommodate more than 300 vehicles.
v.The project was developed through a Public-Private Partnership(PPP), with terminal operations being managed by industry players JM Baxi & Co(Mumbai) and Ballard Pier Port Private Limited(Mumbai).
Other Inaugurated Projects
1.Renovated Fire Memorial at Victoria Docks (Mumbai): Honors Mumbai Port Fire Services personnel with a “Golden Tears” theme, commemorating a historic fire incident.
2.Heritage Buildings: Fort House (Ballard Estate) and Evelyn House (Colaba) in Mumbai were restored with façade lighting to enhance the MbPA historical legacy and promote tourism.
3.Rejuvenation of Sagar Upvan Garden:
i.The rejuvenated Sagar Upvan Garden at Colaba was reopened, supported by Mumbai-based Tata Trusts.
ii.It features over 500 plant varieties, a 25,000 KLD Sewage Treatment Plant, and sea-facing pathways.
4.Other Infrastructure Enhancements:
i.The Shore to Ship Electric Supply was launched to reduce carbon emissions, noise pollution, and improve operational efficiency for tug boats and Indian Coast Guard (ICG)vessels.
ii.The fuel dispensing infrastructure at the Mumbai port now includes two High-Speed Diesel (HSD) units, one Gasoline unit, and one Fast Electric Vehicle (EV) charger.
Infrastructure Boost: MoUs Worth Rs. 5700 Crore for Vadhavan Port
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also presided over the MoU signing, worth over Rs. 5700 crore was signed for infrastructure development at Vadhavan Port, located in Maharashtra. The agreements include:
- Rs. 4200 crore for a terminal to handle container, bulk, and liquid cargo
- Rs. 1000 crore for a dedicated terminal for bulk and liquid cargo
- Rs. 500 crore for a liquid cargo jetty and tank farm with 3,00,000 Cubic Meter (CBM) capacity for liquefied chemicals.
Note: Since 2014, major port cargo increased from 556 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) to 854 MMT in 2024–25, and Inland water cargo jumped from 6.89 MMT to 133 MMT, a growth of 1800%.
