Mumbai’s long‑awaited International Cruise Terminal at Ballard Pier will finally open its doors today, marking a pivotal moment for India’s maritime‑tourism ambitions. Built by the Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA) for ₹556 crore, the ground‑plus‑three, 415,000‑sq‑ft facility can process up to 10,000 travellers a day, handle five cruise ships at once and manage 500 calls—or about one million passengers—each year. A public‑private partnership ensures smooth operations: Ballard Pier Port Pvt Ltd and JM Baxi & Co have a 30‑year concession that includes a ₹30 crore security deposit, a ₹5 crore annual rent and a 5 percent yearly escalation. The lower floors house 72 immigration counters and passenger amenities, while the upper levels—equipped with 22 elevators, 10 escalators and parking for 300 cars—will be leased for retail, dining and leisure, giving Mumbai a lively waterfront hub even on non‑sailing days.
Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who will inaugurate the terminal, will also unveil two green and community‑minded projects: a revamped Sagar Upvan Garden in Colaba and a Shore‑to‑Ship electric‑power facility that lets berthed vessels plug into on‑shore electricity, slashing emissions from idling diesel generators. In addition, Sonowal will hand over a Reay Road plot to the Hare Krishna Mission for a community kitchen and grant the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority its first Mumbai office space at Mallet Bunder—symbolic of the port sector’s deepening urban footprint.
Cruise operators, particularly Cordelia Cruises—which already bases a vessel in Mumbai for twice‑weekly sailings—expect traffic to rise sharply as Indian travellers shift from overseas departures to home‑port voyages. Last fiscal year the city logged 20 international and 71 domestic calls with nearly two lakh passengers; officials believe the new terminal’s capacity and improved passenger experience will accelerate growth toward the estimated three‑lakh‑plus Indians who cruise globally each year, turning Mumbai into a regional embarkation hub.