India’s Cochin Port has unveiled plans to construct a new cruise terminal with a capacity to handle 5,000 visitors by February 2020. According to the Ministry of Shipping, Cochin Port Trust issued a contractor work order on July 20 to commence the construction of the new terminal at the port’s Ernakulum Wharf. The foundation stone for the new cruise terminal was laid by Alphons Kannanthanam, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism on July 28.
The estimated cost of construction of the terminal is Rs 257.2 million (USD 3.7 million) and of this Rs 214.1 million has been sanctioned as grant by India’s Ministry of Tourism. Currently, cruise vessels with a length of up to 260 meters are handled at the BTP berth and Samudrika, the cruise passenger facilitation centre. However, vessels with a length of more than 260 meters are handled at Ernakulam Wharf. It is in this context the new cruise terminal has been envisaged.
