As part of the Union govt’s Cruise Bharat Mission, Gujarat has proposed three cruise circuits along the western coast covering Diu, Veraval, Porbandar, Dwarka, Jamnagar, Okha, and Padala Island, alongside the operational Ghogha-Hazira Ro-Pax (Roll-On/Roll-Off Passenger) service.
The govt said on Tuesday that the three clusters identified for cruise ship circuits are Padala Island–Rann of Kutch, Porbandar–Veraval–Diu, and Dwarka–Okha–Jamnagar. Each cluster is designed with tourism logic, ensuring that key religious, natural, and cultural destinations are within a 100km radius, making shore excursions efficient and attractive for cruise passengers, the govt said.
The Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) on Sunday conducted a day-long workshop with various stakeholders as a preliminary exercise of drafting the state’s cruise shipping policy. An official statement said that Gujarat became the first state to align with the Union government’s Cruise Bharat Mission, which aims at developing a globally competitive cruise tourism system. The workshop aimed at exploring various opportunities to leverage the state’s 2,340km coastline and navigable rivers like the Sabarmati and the Narmada.
Speaking on the topic of ‘Policy and Infrastructure’, Rajiv Jalota, advisor, Indian Ports Association, outlined the strategic goals of the Cruise Bharat Mission, while Sushil Kumar Singh, chairperson of Mumbai Port Authority, discussed port readiness and the need for clear berthing policies.
Krishnaraj R, Foreigners Regional Registration Office-Cochin, focused on streamlining immigration and onshore procedures, while Gautam Dey, CEO, Goa International Cruise Terminal, addressed infrastructure upgrades and skill development.
Gujarat’s roadmap for cruise tourism was presented by GMB CEO Rajkumar Beniwal. Saidingpuii Chhakchhuak (IAS), MD, Gujarat Tourism, laid out a strategy for developing “cruise-ready” destinations and shore excursion circuits designed to enhance passenger experience. An official statement said that Ashwani Kumar, principal secretary (ports and transport), spoke on Gujarat’s integrated approach, combining infrastructure, policy, and tourism development. In a panel discussion, the panellists shared their insights, spoke of existing challenges, and explored future growth avenues.
