Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways said the international cruise terminal, a milestone project of Mormugao Port Authority (MPA), will help transform the infrastructure and waterways of Goa.
He was addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone for the development of international and domestic cruise terminals in the presence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Union Minister of State for PSW & Tourism Shripad Naik, Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, MLAs Krishna (Daji) Salkar and Sankalp Amonkar.

“There will be modernisation, digitisation and upgradation of all ports and waterways in India. The cruise terminals which will help Goa to develop as not only as a tourism dependent state but will be an economic superpower in the coming years,” said Sonowal.

He added that the international cruise terminal on its completion will be able to hand exponentially higher volume of cruise and cargo vessels and generate thousands on employment opportunities.

MPA & NMPA Chairperson Dr Venkata Ramana Akkaraju said under the Sagarmala and Gati Shakti initiative of the central government, there will be a major upgradation of all ports and waterways across India and specifically Mormugao Port.

“This will increase the cargo handling capacity and also boost tourism industry. The international cruise terminal will add to Goan economy and generate employment opportunities,” he said.The cruise terminal project is funded jointly by Ministry of Tourism, under the scheme for Tourism Infrastructure Development and by Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways under Sagarmala scheme, which will act as a gateway to Goa. Another INR 21 crore will be invested by a private operator for operation & maintenance of terminal on PPP mode.

The project will be developed on the area admeasuring 13.4 acres of land close to existing Break Water berth (Cruise Berth) by providing additional berthing facilities to Domestic cruises on Buffer berth and Berth 3. The project also involves facility for RO-RO, Ro-PAX and Ferry Services which is unique in nature to benefit both, international and domestic cruise passengers, to crossover to North Goa and other tourist destinations using transportation through waterways. The total Project cost is INR101.72 Cr for the development of the terminal.

The MPA also announced the plan for construction of Up-ramp to Flyover at Port railway Baina to facilitate the movement of cargo from storage yards at the estimated cost of INR 26.13 crore with the financial assistance from Ministry of PSW under Sagarmala scheme.