The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal officially unveiled projects valued at Rs 2.16 billion for the nation, including the inauguration of the state-of-the-art Vizag International Cruise Terminal in Visakhapatnam. According to a press release from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, the minister also marked the commencement of several significant initiatives, such as the construction of a covered storage shed-2 in the port area, a world-class truck parking terminal, and an oil refinery berth. These endeavors are aimed at bolstering the capacity of the Vizag Port, with the ultimate goal of transforming it into a regional hub for both cruise and cargo traffic. During his speech, the Union Minister praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and emphasized India's commitment to elevate its ports to global standards through modernization, mechanization, and digitization. He highlighted the remarkable growth in cargo movement capacity at India's major ports, which has more than doubled in just nine years, thanks to visionary leadership. The Minister expressed optimism about Visakhapatnam's potential to become a major center for cruise tourism and maritime trade, thanks to well-connected transportation systems via railways, roadways, airways, and revitalized marine waterways. He projected a substantial increase in the number of cruise ships, passengers, and economic opportunities in the coming years. The Maritime India Vision 2030 roadmap is expected to generate 200,000 new jobs in the cruise tourism sector. The Vizag International Cruise Terminal (VICT), developed with a significant investment and grant from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, can accommodate up to 2,000 passenger vessels and is equipped with covered storage sheds for bulk cargo. The newly inaugurated covered storage shed in the R1 area is designed to store 84,000 tonnes of cargo and includes dust suppression measures. Additionally, the ongoing revamp of oil refinery berths is set to enhance capacity and contribute to economic growth. Union Minister Sonowal inaugurated the oil refinery 1 berth, which will boost capacity by 3.81 million metric tonnes. See also: Vizag International Cruise Terminal InauguratedMaritime Infrastructure Perspective Plan 2023-37 unveiled