Bhubaneswar, Nov 4 (UDN): Puri is set to emerge as a major destination on India’s cruise tourism map, with a proposed international cruise terminal worth Rs 1,500 crore to be developed through a partnership between the Paradip Port Authority (PPA) and the Odisha government.
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Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced the project on Tuesday while unveiling the Centre’s maritime development plans at a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee in Puri.
The proposed terminal is part of the Centre’s broader strategy to expand cruise tourism and strengthen the country’s maritime infrastructure, according to an official statement issued by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Sonowal said the government aims to attract one million sea cruise passengers by 2029 under the Cruise Bharat Mission, launched in September 2024. The initiative also seeks to generate four lakh jobs by March 2029.
Highlighting the government’s plans to promote water-based transport, the minister said the Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme aims to increase the share of coastal and inland waterway shipping in India’s freight movement from the present six per cent to 12 per cent by 2047.
The two initiatives—the Cruise Bharat Mission and the Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme—are expected to create more than 5.6 lakh employment opportunities and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 16 million tonnes, he said.
Cruise Tourism Records Strong Growth
India recorded 4,62,661 ocean cruise passengers and 212 vessel calls during the 2025-26 financial year, reflecting significant growth in the sector.
According to Sonowal, passenger traffic has increased 5.5 times and vessel calls have risen 2.1 times since 2013-14.
The country currently has 20 operational river cruise circuits across 16 National Waterways, while another 51 circuits have been identified for phased development. In addition, 143 river cruise terminals and landing points are operational, the minister said.
Coastal Shipping Push
Sonowal also highlighted the progress made in coastal cargo transportation, stating that cargo handled at Indian ports has risen from 74 million metric tonnes to 177 million metric tonnes over the past 12 years—an increase of around 140 per cent.
Announced in the Union Budget 2026-27, the Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme will offer incentives to cargo owners, coastal vessel operators and multimodal transport operators using integrated shipping, rail and road networks.
With a coastline stretching over 11,000 km, India has considerable potential to move freight over long distances through more sustainable transport options, he said.
Odisha’s Maritime Connectivity to Expand
The minister also underscored the importance of National Waterway-5 in Odisha, a project estimated to cost more than Rs 13,000 crore.
The proposed waterway is expected to connect key industrial and mining centres, including Talcher and Kalinganagar, with ports along the eastern coast. The connectivity is aimed at improving cargo movement, reducing transportation bottlenecks and strengthening the state’s maritime logistics network.
The proposed international cruise terminal in Puri, alongside investments in waterways and coastal shipping, is expected to add a new dimension to Odisha’s maritime infrastructure and tourism potential.
