Mumbai, April 27: Domestic cruise terminal of Mumbai Port Trust is ready and soon Mumbai to Goa cruise service will start. According to a report published in India Today, Mumbai Port Trust has built an infrastructure and now private operator of this cruise service is waiting for permission from govt.

"We have developed the domestic cruise terminal building. An operator is yet to get few permissions and also the delivery of vessel which operator has ordered from abroad got delayed. But we are hopeful that soon first Domestic cruise will start from Mumbai to Goa," observed India Today, quoting Sanjay Bhatia, chairman Mumbai Port Trust.

The cruise will operate from Mumbai to Murmagaon in Goa on alternate day, and it will take almost 14 hours to reach the destination. It will have five-star facilities including in-house entertainment, infinity swimming pool, restaurant, café and bar. Passengers can also enjoy evening view on the open deck of the cruise.

For passengers to enjoy views of coastal villages along the Konkan and Goa coastline the cruise will sail along five nautical miles of coastline. Price of tickets of this first domestic cruise is yet to be decided This would be the first domestic cruise.

According to the report, Mumbai Port Trust is going to start 'RoPex' service from Mumbai to Mandva (Alibag) along with the domestic cruise terminal. This will provide facility to passengers to take their vehicles inside this boat and travel. The travel time will be reduced, and also it will save fuel. Due to this, travel time from Mumbai to tourist places in Raigad district will be reduced. Also at least 2-and-half-hour travel time will be saved from south Mumbai to Goa by this RoPex service.

Sanjay Bhatia, chairman Mumbai Port Trust told India Today, "We are starting the RoPex service which will help to reduce the time of commuters who want to travel to Goa by road. This will also boost tourism in Raigad.”

Port trust is also developing the area where it is planning to create waterfront, marina, sea facing open restaurant near the domestic cruise terminal. According to Mumbai Port Trust, that this development can fetch more tourist to the east coast of the city. As per the report, Mumbai port trust will also plan to start floating restaurant on east cost which will be open for public.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 27, 2018 11:03 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).