VASCO: Union Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the immigration centre at MPT cruise berth, on Friday afternoon.
The Rs 2.12 crore project was funded by the Union ministry of tourism which was built within five months.
After the inauguration of the immigration office, Mandaviya tweeted saying, “Aiming to improve cruise passenger facilitation, inaugurated Immigration Office at Mormugao Port, Goa. This facility is created in middle of breakwater to minimise the walking distance for the passengers while embarking and disembarking; it will give further boost to Goa tourism.”
Goa is a unique tourist spot and a compelling destination; it attracts nearly a million foreign and over 6.80 million domestic tourists annually. Nearly all tourists reach by air, rail or road route. The arrivals by cruise are only about two percent.
Despite infrastructural constraints, MPT is recognised in the voyages of world’s most sophisticated cruise liners. Task force for cruise tourism under the chairmanship of minister of tourism decided that immigration for cruise shipping be streamlined and standard operating procedures to be devised. It was suggested that sufficient number of mobile counters have to be provided in case cruise ships are not berthed near the cruise terminal building.
The counters should be designed to accommodate laptops, PRMS, cameras, biometric and other similar devices for immigration clearances. The ministry of tourism has adopted standard operating procedures to facilitate faster and hassle free immigration clearance at the gangway (berth) using e-landing and e-visa system.
A separate taxi counter is provided to facilitate passengers to visit places of tourist attractions in Goa. Separate toilet blocks for male, female and disabled persons are provided.
Further, bio-digester of 3000 litres is provided to treat the sewage. Immigration Centre was extended on both sides by 3 mts to facilitate cruise passengers for hassle free entry/exit to immigration office. An exclusive lounge facility is provided before the entrance to Immigration office with decorative tensile roofing to avoid inconvenience when maximum number of passengers have to be accommodated at certain point of time.
