Despite a coastline extending over 11,000 kilometres, India has yet to establish a fully operational marina capable of accommodating yachts and larger vessels. While discussions around marina development have surfaced periodically over the years, the government now appears to be taking nationwide steps to address the gap.
Introduced by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in 2024, the Cruise Bharat Mission is a national initiative aimed at positioning India as a more attractive destination for cruise and yacht tourism. The programme brings together port modernisation, regulatory reform and waterfront development to create new opportunities along the country’s extensive coastline.
As part of this initiative, the Mumbai Port Authority has announced plans to develop the country’s first large-scale marina within the city’s historic harbour. Marina World spoke with Adesh Titarmare, Deputy Chairman of the Mumbai Port Authority, to discuss the details of the project, its objectives, berth capacity and how it fits within the government’s wider strategy of developing India’s coastline.
What is the Cruise Bharat Mission?
The Cruise Bharat Mission sits under the broader Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 frameworks, which prioritise the blue economy as a key driver of national growth. The mission is structured around three areas of focus: infrastructure creation, policy alignment and coastal economic development. It promotes public–private collaboration to build new cruise terminals and marinas while streamlining procedures covering customs, immigration, health and security for visiting vessels.
The initiative aims to transform India’s ports into “vibrant waterfront destinations” that integrate leisure, business and tourism. This includes not only cruise terminals but also supporting facilities such as hotels, yacht clubs and other recreational infrastructure.
Titarmare explained that the mission will be implemented in stages. “We will build five marinas in India at various locations, in three phases,” he said. “India has a vast coastline but until now there has been no organised marina.” He added that the Cruise Bharat Mission “integrates a holistic vision for cruises as well as marinas”, combining regulatory simplification with large-scale investment in port and coastal infrastructure.
Reconnecting India with its coastline
Explaining the government’s rationale for pursuing this national policy, Titarmare said that its motivation extends beyond infrastructure. “There are two main ideas behind it,” he noted. “First, we want to make the sea accessible to all, ensuring secure and equitable access so that everyone can enjoy it. Second, there is the wider potential for employment generation and economic growth through tourism.” He added that the government had recognised this opportunity and that the marina project in Mumbai was conceptualised as a result.
In addition to its infrastructure objectives, the Cruise Bharat Mission also addresses the regulatory framework for visiting vessels. “The mission works on both fronts,” commented Titarmare. “It covers the infrastructure front as well as the regulatory and developmental fronts. A lot of streamlining has already been done for cruise vessels, and once our marina is complete, procedures for yachts will also be simplified.” A high-level advisory committee has been established within the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to coordinate these efforts across customs, immigration and security agencies.
Mumbai’s first large-scale marina project
The marina development project in Mumbai will be delivered on an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis and fully funded by the Mumbai Port Authority, with a single contractor overseeing the design, procurement and construction before handing over a completed facility to the port. With an estimated cost of $39 million, the marina has received board approval and will be capable of accommodating 434 yachts ranging from 10 to 30 metres in its first phase.
The facility is being designed by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in Chennai, which is also serving as project management consultant.
Tenders for the EPC contract were issued in August 2025, with submissions due by 20 November. Once completed, the marina will be transferred to a private operator under a public–private partnership for management and operations. “The shore-side facilities, including a five-star hotel, a marina club, a sailing school and dry stacking for yachts will be developed by the private operator under a forty-five-year concession,” Titarmare explained. The partnership will cover four hectares of waterfront land allocated by the Port Authority.
Construction of the marina and berthing infrastructure is expected to be completed by 2028, with the full shore-side facilities scheduled to become operational the following year.
The future of India’s coastline
According to Titarmare, the Mumbai Marina is expected to serve as a model for future marina projects across India. He revealed that the locations of the next four marinas planned under the Cruise Bharat Mission will be determined after the completion of Mumbai’s facility. “Once our marina comes up, it will be decided on which locations the other four marinas will be constructed,” he explained, noting that possible sites include Goa, Kochi, Chennai and Visakhapatnam.
Titarmare expects the project to inspire further marina developments in the Mumbai region. “I can foresee the future. Once this marina is completed, I am expecting one or two more marinas in the Mumbai region,” he said.
Asked whether foreign investors would be able to participate, Titarmare confirmed that the projects will be open to international companies. “It is open to private companies outside India as well,” he remarked.
As the first of its kind, the Mumbai Marina is intended to serve as a model for a connected network of marinas and coastal tourism hubs under the Cruise Bharat Mission, marking a new chapter in India’s maritime development.
