The Union minister for road transport & highways, shipping and water resources, river development & Ganga rejuvenation, Nitin Gadkari and chief minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated Mumbai’s. The much-awaited Mumbai – Goa cruise service ‘Angriya’ was also flagged off on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Gadkari said that the domestic cruise sector will provide employment opportunities to 2.5 lakh youth in next five years. It will cater to nearly 30 lakh passengers from Mumbai in the next ten years. He said that India has the potential to attract 40 lakh cruise tourist passengers by 2041, out of which 32 lakh would visit Mumbai; he said that the domestic cruise terminal as well as the soon-to-be inaugurated international cruise terminal will hugely benefit them. The minister also said that works to the tune of INR 2.5 lakh crore have been earmarked for ports under the Sagarmala project.
The chief minister said that Gadkari has opened the east coast of Mumbai to the common people. He said that the domestic and the international cruise terminals will create jobs and have a positive impact on development. Speaking of various transports modes such as water, coastal roads, monorail and metro rail, Fadnavis said that the ticketing systems of these various modes will soon be integrated.
The Mumbai – Goa Cruise Service is India’s first luxury cruise liner. It would sail to Goa three days a week. It would give a new dimension to cruise services and help expand its horizons in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Kerala.The new terminal is centrally air-conditioned, with façade lighting. Mid-size cruise vessels with a carrying capacity of 300 – 400 passengers would be operated from Mumbai to Goa from the new terminal.
Interacting with the media on board the maiden voyage of Angriya, Gadkari said that 100 cruises such as this will be started, giving a boost to Mumbai Goa connectivity. He said that such services will be launched in rivers too. Water hotels will be set up along the Thane – Virar route. Water taxis will become operational for the new airport and for Panvel. He added that the Central Government is ready to build a jetty to facilitate water transport from Thane. A sea plane too is being planned, said the minister.