CHENNAI
Cruise tourism has not developed in Chennai despite there being a dedicated jetty and passenger terminal. Like last year, the Chennai Port Trust (CPT) received only five luxury liners in 2013.
But the city port, which is clearly moving towards cleaner cargo, cars, containers and cruise ships, is all set to upgrade facilities for passengers by building an aerobridge and escalators, apart from improving security measures, fire fighting services, water and maintenance services.
CPT chairman Atulya Misra said the modernisation of the cruise terminal would begin in 2014 at an estimated cost of Rs 22.14 crore. “We have got Rs 8.5 crore from the Central government for development of a cruise tourism facilitation centre, as the Ministry of Tourism has identified Chennai port as one of the ports for development of cruise tourism in India. We will source the remaining money by developing the terminal in a PPP mode,” he added.
Full report here Deccan Chronicle
