Vizag port’s cruise terminal set to go operational
Construction works on International Marine Cruise Terminal nearing completion this month
image for illustrative purpose
After an encouraging response for the limited time offer of ‘entertainment on high seas’ by Cordelia Cruise’s from the City of Destiny to Puducherry enroute Chennai, Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA), one among the top premier ports of India, is bracing up to complete construction work on the prestigious International Marine Cruise Terminal by month-end.
During the year 2018-19 between April-January, the port handled three voyages of Cordelia Cruise in the route of Visakhapatnam-Puducherry-Chennai, which had attracted tourists from all over India. Nearly 219 passengers embarked and 2019 passengers disembarked at VPA. During the year 2021-22 between April-January, the port handled 15 voyages of Cordelia Cruise vessels between Visakhapatnam-Puducherry-Chennai. Approximately 8,645 passengers embarked and 13,814 passengers disembarked at VPA. Cordelia cruise was temporarily operated from the city following cancellation of service between Goa and Colombo due to disturbances in Sri Lanka.
The construction of the cruise terminal is progressing at brisk pace and the officials exude confidence that everything will be put in place by month-end to make it operational at the earliest possible time. The project has been taken up under the Sagarmala project at a cost of around Rs103 crore.
Once operational, the terminal will have a capacity to operate cruise service with a capacity of 2,000 to 2,500 passengers. The project’s progress has periodically been monitored by Union Minister for Ports, Shiping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy
“The terminal will have a passenger lounge, customs, immigration counters, recreation zone, cafetaria, restrooms, duty-free shop and money exchange counters,” VPA Chairman Dr M Angamuthu, told Bizz Buzz.
The terminal will have a berth of 180 meter length with four mooring dolphins-two each on either side of the berth to make a total length of 330 meters. It can handle cruise ships of LOA (overall length) of 300 meter, beam 37.6 meter and draft 8.1 meter and GRT (gross register tonnage) up to 150000 tonnes. The site area extends over 12,660 square meter.
VPA Secretary T Venu Gopal said the ground floor facilities include an area of 3075 sqmfor arrivals and departures. The terminal has a seating capacity in the waiting area for 300passengers. There will be one enquiry office along with three retail shops initially. The lounge will have two pantry sections and four multipurpose counters, cubicle sets at immigration counters and a thorough provision for security check-up and surveillance.
The Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) is getting ready with international standards with a total built-up area 4580 sqm. The ground has a floor area 3074.87 sqm for arrivals and departures.
The first floor has an area of 1383.43 sqm. Adequate parking space has been provided for seven buses, 70 cars and 40 two-wheelers.
