Port Blair, Jan 28: Impressive parade, colourful cultural programme, presentation of medals and Lt. Governor’s Commendation Certificates marked 75th Republic Day celebration in A&N Islands yesterday. The main function for the Republic Day was held at the Marina Park road stretch wherein the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands & Vice Chairman, Islands Development Agency, Admiral DK Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.) unfurled the National Flag. The function was attended among others by Member of Parliament, Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Shri Keshav Chandra, IAS, CINCAN, Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan, AVSM, VM, DGP, Shri Devesh Chandra Srivastva, IPS, Chairperson, PBMC, Smti S Selvi, Senior Officers of Defence & Civil Administration and public representatives.
In his Republic Day address to the Islanders at Marina Park road stretch, the Lt. Governor greeted the Islanders on the auspicious occasion of 75th Republic Day. The Lt. Governor said, “during this ‘Amrit Kaal’ of India’s Independence, I pay my heartfelt tributes to those heroes whose sacrifice has established us as a strong Republic and today we are moving towards a becoming a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
The Lt. Governor said, under the able guidance of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and the schemes of IDA, the development of these Islands has gained new momentum. With investment plans of more than Rs 95,000 crore in infrastructure in the last six years, this strategically important archipelago for the country is fast moving towards becoming a Global Growth Destination, the Lt. Governor informed.
The Lt. Governor stated that despite the remoteness of the archipelago from the mainland and logistical challenges, 15 out of 44 (34 percent) projects of IDA have been completed. Ambitious projects like CANI Submarine OFC Project, Azad Hind Fauj Setu on Humphrey Strait, etc. have proved to be game changers in the multifaceted development of the Islands, he said.
The Lt. Governor further disclosed that the 29 IDA projects (66 percent) which are moving closer towards completion, will give new heights to the development of the archipelago.
The Lt. Governor expressed happiness and stated that work is in progress to start Sea-Plane operations from Port Blair to Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep and Long Island sectors in a phased manner. Apart from this, operators have also been selected to start fixed-wing services from Port Blair to Shibpur, Car-Nicobar and Campbell Bay routes. Fleet upgradation by new Sikorsky Helicopters will further strengthen the connectivity in the Islands. From the disaster management point of view, construction of Helipads at Sagardweep in Diglipur and Hanspuri in Mayabunder are in progress.
The Lt. Governor said in Tourism, Hospitality and Service sectors, the Megapode Resort, 4-Islands Projects & 11-site developments and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose National Memorial will prove to be milestones in the development of tourism in these Islands. “We are planning to develop Eco-Friendly Resort under PPP mode at Radhanagar Beach of Swaraj Dweep and striving to develop ‘Heritage Tourism Circuit’ connecting Chatham, Viper and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island”, the Lt. Governor added.
The Lt. Governor further informed that to attract investment in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an ‘Investors' Conference’ was organized in New Delhi on 4th December 2023 and in Thailand on 19th January 2024, in which 106 representatives from different countries participated. This will open new opportunities for the development of Infrastructure, Sea & Air Connectivity, Export of Marine Products, Tourism, Shipping and Fisheries sectors in the Islands, he said. Apart from this, a Lighthouse Tower on Invisible Bank Rani Laxmimbai Shila is progressing towards completion.
The Lt. Governor stated that IDA has many ambitious projects for which various Clearances, Consultancy Reports, DPRs, EIAs etc. are in various stages of process. The Lt. Governor stated that as per the direction of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, many visionary projects involving investment of more than Rs 75,000 crore in the important GNI Project such as International Container Transshipment Terminal, new Green field International Airport, Power Plant and establishment of Township will be undertaken to make these Islands an economic hub and will also prove to be a force multiplier in establishing India's dominance in the Indo Pacific Region. With the encouraging response of 11 Expression of Interests, ICTT development is moving towards its goals. Apart from this, after Final Site Selection and LiDAR Survey, further process for the new Greenfield Airport in Port Blair is in progress, the Lt. Governor said.
The Lt. Governor further said that the intangible benefits of many projects under the category of Policy Decisions will have multifarious impact on the economy as well as will be the benchmark in the times to come for the all-round development of the Islands. As part of the projects under IDA Intangible, 30 Islands are exempted from Restricted Area Permit and the facility of Visa-on-Arrival/e-visa has proved important for tourism. To increase exports of fisheries and marine products, the A&N Administration is working towards establishing trade links with South-East Asian countries through direct sea and air transport.
The Lt. Governor also mentioned about several initiatives made by the A&N Administration for the welfare of the Islanders along with IDA. He said that it is a matter of joy that the inauguration of the new terminal of Veer Savarkar International Airport by the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the appointment letters given to 1157 youth in 'employment fairs' under the ‘Berozgar-Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’ have played an important role in the economic and social development of the Islands. In this series, efforts are being made to provide appointment letters to more than 2,500 more youth soon, the Lt. Governor added.
In the education sector, the Lt. Governor said that implementation of PAHAL Plus is going on for qualitative improvements of educational outcomes in Isles. To ensure adequate availability of water to the Islanders under the ‘Catch the Rain Campaign’, 75 or more ‘Amrit Sarovars’ have been constructed in each district, the Lt. Governor said.
The Lt. Governor further disclosed that the work for installation of 4G towers is also going on in mission mode to provide communication facilities in the remote unconnected villages of A&N Islands.
Under the Shipping Sector, many initiatives are being taken like Deep Water Port in Atlanta Bay of Diglipur, Port Meadows Ship to Ship Transshipment and construction proposal of Ship Construction/Repair Hub for Indo Pacific Region in the Islands will be important in establishing India on the Global Stage.
The Lt. Governor stated that as per the instructions of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Surveillance and Patrolling has been completed in all 836 Islands by the Andaman Nicobar Command and Police Force between July 1 and December 31, 2023, which will continue with readiness in the future also.
The Lt. Governor informed that in the 37th National Games, the young players of the Islands have brought glory to the Islands by winning a total of 8 medals including 3 gold.
The Lt. Governor expressed happiness that the Police Administration of the Islands has earned 1 President's Police Medal for distinguished services and 3 President's Police Medal for Meritorious services.
The Lt. Governor extended his best wishes to the Marching Contingents, school children and other participants of the cultural programme. He also congratulated all the award winners and hoped that their commitment towards social service will become stronger and stronger. The Lt Governor also expressed his gratitude to the Hon’ble Member of Parliament and all those who extended their cooperation to the Administration for the ‘Viksit Bharat Initiative’. He also expressed his gratitude to the Andaman and Nicobar Command under the leadership of CINCAN, who have always cooperated with the Civil Administration whenever needed. The Lt. Governor also appreciated the works being undertaken by the A&N Administration under the leadership of the Chief Secretary, DGP and PCCF.
The Lt. Governor assured that he and his Administration is fully committed for the all-round modern development of the Islands so that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands can play its role in realizing the Hon’ble Prime Minister's dream of a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
The main attraction of the Republic Day was the march past in which the contingents of Defence Forces, Police, NCC contingents, School (Boys & Girls) participated. Different Departments of A&N Administration displayed their development activities through presentation of Tableaux. The highlight of this year’s Republic Day celebration was the ‘Dare Devil Bike Show’ by IRBn. Cultural programme by school children added grandeur to the Republic Day function at Marina Park road. The enthusiasm was such that heavy rain could not dampen the spirit of the IRBn personnel and school students performing their ‘Bike Show’ and dance. The main function of the Republic Day concluded with the National Anthem.