India’s largest and most advanced cruise terminal, the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal (MICT), officially began operations on Monday, April 21, 2025. The terminal, located at Ballard Pier, can handle up to one million passengers annually, with an average capacity of 10,000 passengers per day.
The inauguration was led by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, who also unveiled several restored heritage structures including the Fire Memorial at Victoria Docks, Fort House at Ballard Estate, and Evelyn House in Colaba.
As part of India’s Green Port initiative, the Minister also inaugurated the Sagar Upvan garden and a shore-to-ship electrical supply system to promote sustainable maritime practices.
According to the Ministry, the MICT has been developed under the Cruise Bharat Mission and meets world-class standards. It is poised to play a key role in shaping the future of cruise tourism in India.
The terminal spans over 4.15 lakh square feet, built with an investment of ₹556 crore. The state-of-the-art facility features:
- 72 check-in and immigration counters spread across 2.07 lakh square feet on the first two floors.
- Two commercial floors offering shopping and leisure options.
- Capacity to handle 5 cruise ships simultaneously, each up to 300 meters long and with a draft of 11 meters.
- A parking area that can accommodate over 300 cars.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Sonowal highlighted Mumbai’s historic role as a maritime hub and said the terminal will offer passengers a modern, safe, and comfortable cruise experience. He also noted that this development complements India’s existing international cruise terminals in Visakhapatnam and Chennai.
In addition, the Minister signed MoUs for infrastructure projects worth over ₹5,700 crore at Vadhavan Port. This includes:
- ₹4,200 crore for a terminal to handle container, bulk, and liquid cargo.
- ₹1,000 crore for a dedicated bulk and liquid cargo terminal.
- ₹500 crore for building a tank farm and liquid cargo jetty with a 3,00,000 CBM capacity for handling liquefied chemicals.
With the launch of Mumbai International Cruise Terminal (MICT), India takes a significant step toward becoming a global cruise tourism destination.
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