India’s maritime ambitions received a significant boost on Monday as Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, flagged off cruise operations at the newly built Mumbai International Cruise Terminal (MICT)—the country’s largest cruise terminal—at Ballard Pier. Developed under the Cruise Bharat Mission, MICT is a futuristic facility designed to accommodate 1 million passengers annually and handle up to five cruise ships simultaneously.
Spread across 4.15 lakh sq ft, the terminal features 72 check-in and immigration counters and parking for over 300 vehicles. With its rose gold accents, wave-inspired ceiling, heritage-style façade, and sleek modern interiors, MICT blends Mumbai’s maritime heritage with cutting-edge design to deliver a world-class passenger experience. Built with an investment of INR 556 crore, it is expected to position Mumbai among the top cruise tourism destinations globally.
In addition to launching cruise operations, Minister Sonowal also inaugurated several other key projects under the Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA). These included:
Renovated Fire Memorial at Victoria Docks, honoring the Mumbai Port Fire Services with a “Golden Tears” themed tribute.
Heritage Lighting at Port House (Ballard Estate) and Evelyn House (Colaba) to promote cultural tourism.
Sagar Upvan Garden restoration at Colaba, featuring 500+ plant species, sea-facing pathways, and a sewage treatment facility developed with Tata Trusts’ support.
Shore to Ship Electric Supply aims to reduce emissions from docked vessels under the Green Port Initiative.
Further bolstering port sustainability, new fuel dispensing units and a fast EV charging station were also inaugurated.
At the same event, MoUs worth over ₹5,700 crore were signed for infrastructure development at Vadhavan Port, envisioned to be one of the world’s top 10 ports. Plans include terminals for container, bulk, and liquid cargo, a chemical handling jetty, and a tank farm. The Minister highlighted Vadhavan’s role as a “game changer” for regional trade and a step towards a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Sonowal reaffirmed that the Cruise Bharat Mission targets include 10 international cruise terminals, 100 river cruise terminals, and 5 marinas, aiming for 2.5 million cruise passengers and over 4 lakh jobs by 2029. Since 2014, India has seen a 454% surge in cruise passengers, from 85,000 to 4.71 lakh.
With MICT’s inauguration and the sweeping initiatives under Cruise Bharat, India’s coastal infrastructure is charting an ambitious course towards becoming a global maritime leader.
