Government of India plans to develop terminals at major ports. The Ministry of Shipping in consultation with the state maritime boards and major port authorities will execute the contracts. Cruise tourism is expected to gain some traction as the Union government plans to develop terminals at major ports to facilitate tourism activity. A single entity will be entrusted with the job of executing the operation and maintenance contracts for the cruise terminals. Essentially, cruise terminals at 4-5 ports would be operated and maintained by one player. The Ministry of Shipping in consultation with the state maritime boards and major port authorities will execute the contracts. The first tender is expected to be executed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and the O&M tender would include JNPT, Kochi, Kandla and Mangalore Port. The Union Shipping Minister said these terminals would be built by the government and tendered on O&M contracts to mainly international players who have the expertise to maintain them for certain duration of time. One terminal at the Mumbai port is being built by the government at an investment of Rs 1.97 billion. This will be tendered for an O&M contract upon completion.
