Union Road Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari today announced the government's new thrust on cruise tourism. He said Mumbai Port is gearing up for the launch of its new world class cruise terminal on 29th October. <br/><br/>Addressing the Annual Convention of Indo-American Chamber of Commerce in Mumbai today, Mr. Gadkari said his ministry has forwarded a proposal to the Finance Ministry seeking allocation of 5 percent of the Central Road Fund for development of national highways and Inland Waterways. <br/><br/>Talking about road development, Mr. Gadkari said pace of road construction is presently 22 kms per day while the government's target is to reach 40 kms a day. He informed that government is planning to construct 13 new expressways to ease traffic movement among cities. <br/><br/>Mr. Gadkari informed that all major ports in India are making profits because of mechanization and modernization. He added that the government is also planning to undertake scrapping of cars in an effort to improve port led development.<br/> Mr. Gadkari said that port led development under the Sagarmala project is expected to attract investment worth 12 lakh crore rupees . The minister also announced plans to construct an all season road connecting the four shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri at the cost of 12,000 crore rupees.