Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off a big boost for India’s cruise tourism by virtually inaugurating the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal on Saturday. He did it from the ‘Samudra se Samriddhi’ event in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, celebrating a key win for the Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA) and the country’s expanding cruise scene.
India’s cruise tourism has bounced back strong after Covid, drawing nearly 250,000 passengers each year with around 100 cruise ship visits—both local and global. The MbPA leads the charge in building this vibrant industry.
During his speech, Modi highlighted how modern India views the ocean as a massive opportunity for growth. “We’ve just launched and laid foundations for projects worth thousands of crores to speed up port upgrades,” he said. “Today, we’re also opening the International Cruise Terminal in Mumbai to push cruise tourism nationwide.”
This new terminal ties right into the Cruise Bharat Mission, kicked off in September 2024 by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. The MbPA built the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal (MICT) to match world-class standards, helping India shine brighter on the global cruise map.
Adesh Titarmare, MbPA’s Deputy Chairman, explained that the project matches Modi’s goal of making cruise trips accessible for everyday Indians. Talking to reporters, he added, “We already manage over 100 cruise calls a year, serving more than 150,000 passengers. With this launch, we’ll attract even more people. Over the past decade, cruise ridership has surged, especially among young folks.”
As part of a national push to modernize cruise spots, the MbPA revamped an old 25,000-square-foot shed at Ballard Pier into India’s biggest high-end cruise terminal. The Rs 556 crore project spans 415,000 square feet, handles up to 1 million passengers annually, and can dock five ships at once.
The event also featured an MoU signing between MbPA’s Chairperson and the Maharashtra Maritime Board’s CEO to create a massive shipbuilding cluster in the state. It spotlighted India’s leaps in maritime and shipbuilding, rolling out fresh initiatives to ramp up capabilities and blend infrastructure, eco-friendly practices, and cultural ties.
Joining the celebrations were Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of State Shantanu Thakur, and top ministry officials like Secretary T.K. Ramachandran.
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