<p>The Centre has planned to make Chennai the hub for cruise tourism on the East Coast, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said here on Sunday.</p>.<p>For the first time in the history of Chennai Port, a continuous cruise service was operated from June to September 2022, he said.</p>.<p>Sonowal was here to review the performance of the Chennai Port Trust and its subsidiary Kamarajar Port Ltd along with senior officials including the chairperson of the Ports, Sunil Paliwal.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/economy-business/indias-major-ports-handled-highest-ever-cargo-at-795-million-tonne-in-fy23-1211659.html" target="_blank">India's major ports handled highest ever cargo at 795 million tonne in FY23</a></strong><br /><br />"We are going to make Chennai Port a hub of cruise tourism in the East Coast." Sonowal told reporters. Chennai Port and Cordelia Cruises signed a memorandum of understanding in May 2022 to boost cruise tourism, he recalled.</p>.<p>Sonowal said 87,000 passengers from 37 cruise tourism operators visited Chennai Port in the past few years.</p>.<p>Later, responding to a query, Paliwal said container ferry services between Chennai and Puducherry had commenced in a small way with containers being the main cargo.</p>.<p>On On launching passenger ferry services between Chennai Port and Puducherry, he said, "This will be a tourist ferry as travelling from Chennai to Puducherry is much faster by road. But a tourist ferry between the two cities will be more of a pleasure. Already we are talking to a few companies.</p>.<p>Sonowal, referring to the Chennai-Maduravoyal elevated corridor project, said it was expected to be awarded in June 2023. The project has been revived by the union government for alleviating traffic congestion at Chennai Port.</p>.<p>The National Highways Authority of India, Chennai Port, Government of Tamil Nadu and the Indian Navy were working in close coordination for making the project into a reality, he said.</p>.<p>Earlier in the day, Sonowal reviewed the functioning of the National Institute of Siddha and Central Council for Research in Siddha and inaugurated a Siddha herbal plant and millets expo in the city.</p>
<p>The Centre has planned to make Chennai the hub for cruise tourism on the East Coast, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said here on Sunday.</p>.<p>For the first time in the history of Chennai Port, a continuous cruise service was operated from June to September 2022, he said.</p>.<p>Sonowal was here to review the performance of the Chennai Port Trust and its subsidiary Kamarajar Port Ltd along with senior officials including the chairperson of the Ports, Sunil Paliwal.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/economy-business/indias-major-ports-handled-highest-ever-cargo-at-795-million-tonne-in-fy23-1211659.html" target="_blank">India's major ports handled highest ever cargo at 795 million tonne in FY23</a></strong><br /><br />"We are going to make Chennai Port a hub of cruise tourism in the East Coast." Sonowal told reporters. Chennai Port and Cordelia Cruises signed a memorandum of understanding in May 2022 to boost cruise tourism, he recalled.</p>.<p>Sonowal said 87,000 passengers from 37 cruise tourism operators visited Chennai Port in the past few years.</p>.<p>Later, responding to a query, Paliwal said container ferry services between Chennai and Puducherry had commenced in a small way with containers being the main cargo.</p>.<p>On On launching passenger ferry services between Chennai Port and Puducherry, he said, "This will be a tourist ferry as travelling from Chennai to Puducherry is much faster by road. But a tourist ferry between the two cities will be more of a pleasure. Already we are talking to a few companies.</p>.<p>Sonowal, referring to the Chennai-Maduravoyal elevated corridor project, said it was expected to be awarded in June 2023. The project has been revived by the union government for alleviating traffic congestion at Chennai Port.</p>.<p>The National Highways Authority of India, Chennai Port, Government of Tamil Nadu and the Indian Navy were working in close coordination for making the project into a reality, he said.</p>.<p>Earlier in the day, Sonowal reviewed the functioning of the National Institute of Siddha and Central Council for Research in Siddha and inaugurated a Siddha herbal plant and millets expo in the city.</p>