In a bid to improve access and passenger convenience, Chennai Port (India) is set to expand its cruise terminal. Officials from the Chennai Port Trust (ChPT) noted that although the terminal was modernised and inaugurated ~7 years ago, only 60% of its area is currently in use, leaving 40% underutilised. The planned expansion aims to streamline embarkation and disembarkation processes, ensuring passengers can move efficiently from the entry point to the waiting area and then onto the ship.
According to ChPT representatives, the waiting area, which presently covers about 2,880 square metres, will be enlarged by an additional 1,500 square metres. They indicated that the expansion will incorporate two distinct routes - one for embarkation and another for disembarkation - to facilitate faster passenger movement. Additional enhancements include increased space for queuing, seating, and immigration, as well as the installation of a new escalator on the western side of the terminal to complement the existing facility on the eastern side. The upgrade will also feature dedicated areas for duty-free shops and convenience stores.
Officials forecast that the expansion work will begin by the end of March and is expected to be completed within 6 months. Chennai Port, which handles an average of 35–36 vessel calls and ~60,000 tourists annually, has previously served as a hub for cruise vessels connecting the city with destinations such as Trincomalee, Kochi, Mumbai, Singapore, and Visakhapatnam. In the near future, cruise ships are scheduled to sail between Chennai and Trincomalee, with additional services planned from Yangon to Kochi and from Phuket to Colombo.