Foundation Stone for the New Cruise Terminal to be Laid by Alphons Kannanthanam

KOCHI:
The foundation stone for the new Cruise Terminal at the Ernakulam Wharf of Cochin Port will be laid by Alphons Kannanthanam, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism on 28th July 2018 at 3 30 PM.
The function will be attended by V. Muraleedharan, MP, Prof. K. V. Thomas, MP, Prof. Richard Hay, MP, Hibi Eden, MLA, K. J. Maxi, MLA and Soumini Jain, Mayor. The new Cruise Terminal having 2253sq mtrs area would be equipped to handle 5000 tourists.
The facilities inside the Terminal would include passenger lounge, crew lounge, 30 immigration counters, 8 customs clearance counters, 7 security check counters, wifi, tourist information counter, duty free shopping, souvenir/artefact/curio shops, medical care, book store, mini conference hall, gaming zone, ATM/bank services, foreign exchange counter, cafeteria, luggage counter, toilets, parking area for buses and cars, trolleys, wheel chairs etc. The estimated cost of construction of the terminal is Rs 25.72cr and of this Rs 21.41cr has been sanctioned as grant by Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India.
Currently cruise vessels having length upto 260mtrs are handled at the BTP berth and Samudrika, the cruise passenger facilitation centre OF Cochin Port. However vessels having length more than 260mtrs are handled at Ernakulam Wharf. It is in this context the new cruise terminal has been envisaged at Ernakulam Wharf. The construction of new Terminal is expected to be completed by February 2020.