Mumbai Port Trust Project: Development of International Cruise Terminal will help generate two lakh jobs

Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) has planned to develop the Mumbai coasts by developing an International Cruise Terminal. Of this, the MbPT wishes to generate two lakh jobs. The project is expected to be completed this year in the month of June.

The International Cruise Terminal will have a capacity to handle 200 ships and seven lakh passengers every year replacing the current 40,000 square feet terminal that only managed 55 ships and nearly 57,000 passengers in six months. Of the total construction area of 4.15 lakh square feet, the total operational area will be 1.7 lakh square feet.

The terminal will be operating throughout the year which would be able to manage cruise ships of up to 5000 passengers. MbPT aims to handle 80 per cent of India’s cruise passengers and the development of the international terminal will increase the domestic and international cruise tourists. It will also provide the facilities to locals for recreation, leisure, and retail.

Till date, the largest ship handled by MbPT is ‘Genting Dream’ and it had the capacity of 3352 passengers and crew of 1992. The development of terminal like this will eventually form the standard for handling such ships in future. The International cruise terminal will also increase the revenue to the port and will help the city’s economy to grow. It will also provide employment opportunities to the people.

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Earlier this year in January, Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis laid the foundation stone for the international cruise terminal. The ministers also announced that the warehouses will be constructed at MbPT and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) which will be operational in few months.

The construction of warehouses aims to reduce the city's roads congestion as the cargo will be transported through the sea replacing the roads. With 28400 crores of tax allocation, this development of the international terminal will open the Mumbai Port’s waterfront for the city and will contribute in boosting the tourism.