Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA) is preparing to broaden its revenue sources by expanding into real estate monetisation, cruise tourism, marina facilities, logistics and public-private partnership (PPP) projects. The strategy is aimed at reducing the port’s dependence on traditional cargo-related operations while strengthening its long-term financial sustainability.
“Ports globally are increasingly becoming integrated economic zones rather than merely cargo gateways, and Mumbai Port is following the same trajectory,” M Angamuthu, chairperson of MbPA, told Business Standard.
While cargo handling, liquid bulk, coastal shipping and marine services will remain central to the port’s operations, Angamuthu said activities such as cruise tourism, commercial development of port land, warehousing, marinas and service-based businesses will increasingly contribute to revenues.
The authority has already generated significant earnings through its land assets. Annual estate revenue stands at around Rs 1,314 crore, while land monetisation under the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) has generated more than Rs 2,500 crore in recent years through upfront-premium leases to organisations including the Reserve Bank of India, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and government agencies.
The Rs 22,672-crore Mumbai Eastern Waterfront Transformation programme is central to this diversification strategy. The initiative aims to strengthen cargo activities while unlocking underutilised waterfront land for tourism, commercial and maritime development.
“We do not look at this as a shift away from port operations. We look at it as widening of the revenue base. Mumbai Port has to remain a strong cargo and energy port while also becoming an important centre for cruise, tourism and the city-port interface, making the port financially more resilient and future-ready,” Angamuthu added.
Cruise tourism is expected to become an important growth area. Mumbai Port handled 95 cruise vessels and 240,346 passengers during the last financial year, including 87 domestic vessels carrying 226,837 passengers and eight international vessels with 13,509 passengers. The authority is targeting 900 cruise calls annually by 2030.
Meanwhile, core cargo operations continue to expand. In 2025-26, the port handled a record 75.15 million tonnes of cargo, a 9.5% year-on-year increase. Operating income stood at Rs 2,805 crore, while operating surplus reached Rs 1,730 crore.
Mumbai Port accounted for 8.22% of cargo handled by India’s major ports, including a 35% share of iron and steel EXIM cargo, 15.5% of liquid bulk and 10.48% of coastal trade.
The authority is targeting 80 million tonnes of cargo in the near term and has outlined a long-term capacity goal of 150 million tonnes per annum by 2047, compared with its current capacity of 85.85 MTPA.
Major upcoming projects include the Rs 920-crore Viksit Bharat Mumbai Marina, the Rs 556-crore Mumbai International Cruise Terminal and a proposed Rs 5,500-crore international convention centre at Princes’ Dock. Mumbai Port is also examining logistics parks, modern warehouses, multimodal transport hubs and value-added logistics services.
At India Maritime Week 2025, the port signed 68 MoUs worth Rs 78,600 crore, including a Rs 23,000-crore partnership for industrial and logistics parks. It has also presented a portfolio of 63 projects worth Rs 5,028 crore covering port operations, marine infrastructure, public facilities, energy, estate development and technology.
Source: Business Standard
