Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 17: The 79th ‘Independence Day’ was celebrated with great enthusiasm and patriotic fervour across the Islands on August 15, 2025. The main function was held at the historic Netaji Stadium wherein the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands and Vice-Chairman, Islands Development Agency, Admiral DK Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.) hoisted the National Tricolour and took the salute of the ‘Independence Day Parade’. The parade and Guard of Honour comprised of Contingents from A&N Command, A&N Police and school students. The Defence helicopter showered flower petals at Netaji Stadium, the venue of the main function of the Independence Day celebration. The function was attended by the Member of Parliament, A&N Islands, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Commander-in-Chief, A&N Command, Lt. General, Dinesh Singh Rana, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, Chairperson, PBMC, Shri. Shahul Hameed, Senior Officers of Defence & Civil Administration, public representatives, prominent citizens and general public.
Extending heartfelt greetings and best wishes on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day and saluting the brave hearts who laid down their lives for the nation, the Lt. Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands outlined an extensive roadmap of development, highlighting record growth in hospitality and service sectors.
The Lt. Governor said, in the past year, the Tourism, Hospitality and Services sectors registered record growth. Domestic tourist arrivals rose by 41% and foreign tourist arrivals by 27%, the highest ever recorded. On July 28, bids were invited for the development of five-star luxury resorts at Megapode Resort, Aves Island, Shaheed Dweep, Long Island, and Smith Island under PPP mode, ensuring ecological sustainability and compliance with global norms such as GRIHA, LEED, GREEN GLOBE, and Star Categorization. A pre-bid meeting was held with potential bidders on August 14 and an Investor’s Meet will follow soon.
To strengthen air connectivity, the Lt. Governor stated that under UDAN-5.5, Letters of Intent were issued on May 7, 2025, to SpiceJet and MEHAIR (P) Ltd. for seaplane services between Sri Vijaya Puram-Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep–Long Island, and Sri Vijaya Puram–Hut Bay–Mayabunder. Construction of Terminals at three ‘Water Aerodromes’ is targeted for completion by September 2025. Civil Terminal facilities at Shibpur and Car Nicobar are ready, while Campbell Bay’s Terminal is expected by October 2025. An O&M agreement has been signed with AAI for these RCS airports, and coordination is ongoing with Fly Big and SpiceJet airline operators.
Commercial helicopter services are planned to link 11 major tourist Islands, and an EoI has been issued for a dedicated Yacht Marina. Based on EoI received, an RFP is being prepared for the development of ‘Golf Villas’ and a ‘Golf Course’ at Rangachang and Rangachang Extension are envisioned as a milestone in boosting the Islands’ tourism profile.
For International Flights from Sri Vijaya Puram, ‘User Development Fee’ (UDF) is fully waived in the first year, with 85% and 65% concessions in the second and third years respectively. VAT on ATF is already exempted, and a proposal for waiving landing charges has been sent to the Ministry of Defence.
On Island Development Agency Projects, the Lt. Governor mentioned that in the last 6–7 years, more than Rs.1.5 lakh crore has been invested under IDA projects, with 15 of the 54 projects completed, including the ‘CANI Submarine OFC’ and ‘Azad Hind Fauj Setu’ at Humphrey Strait. The remaining 39 projects are moving swiftly towards completion.
At the 7th IDA meeting on January 3, 2025, chaired by the Hon’ble Union Home Minister, key decisions were taken, including achieving 100% renewable energy power generation by 2029 and full coverage under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana by 2027.
The Lt. Governor remarked that under the guidance of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, the ambitious ‘Great Nicobar Island Project’, worth about Rs. 92,000 crores, will include a Greenfield Airport, International Container Transshipment Terminal, Power Plant, and Township, primarily under PPP mode to make the Islands a force multiplier in the Indo-Pacific region. The DPR for the Airport and ICTP, and the updated township master plan, are complete; the Power Plant DPR will be ready by October 2025. LiDAR Surveys and site selection for the Greenfield Airport at Sri Vijaya Puram are done, with next steps underway.
The 50 MW LNG Plant at Sri Vijaya Puram, tendered by PSU NVVN, is targeted for completion by December 2027. Since 2017–18, persistent efforts and placing in the agenda of 5th & 6th IDA meetings, have led to the opening of 3.81 lakh sq. km of previously restricted ‘No Go Zones’ for offshore oil exploration, with promising hydrocarbon indicators in the ‘Andaman Basin’.
The Lt. Governor said that under IDA intangible, there are many projects through the Islands will witness economic progress. Under Best Practices, 86% of hotels in Sri Vijaya Puram have earned the ‘Swachhta Green Leaf Rating’. The Sri Vijaya Puram has been recognized as a “Promising Swachh Shehar” in the Swachh Survekshan 2024–25 and has received the prestigious ‘Changemakers Award’.
Under Non-IDA projects, the Lt. Governor stated that recently “Tribes Nicobar Virgin Coconut Oil,” and six other handicrafts and agri-products have received GI Tags. This was highlighted by the Hon’ble Prime Minister in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address on January 19, 2025 and got national recognition. Efforts are underway to secure GI Tags registration for 18 more Traditional Products.
‘Ease of Doing Business Reforms’ include a GIS-based portal for industrial estates, self-certification for industries, extended validity of factory licenses from 1 to 5 years, reduced documentation, and removal of valuation, no-dues, and non-encumbrance certificate requirements in land registration and has been replaced with self-declaration procedure. Renewal of boat licenses, annual surveys, and fuel sale license processes have been abolished, Lt. Governor said.
The Lt. Governor mentioned that A&N Islands is nationally leading in APAAR ID coverage with 97.3% of students registered. Apart from this, six DPIIT-recognized startups, including one led by a woman is encouraging entrepreneurship/startups in A&N Islands. For the first time, nine students including four Onge tribal girls have passed CBSE Class X exams & are presently pursuing their education in Class XI.
Medical education has advanced with the start of DNB PG courses at ANIIMS and plans are afoot to start MD/MS courses with 14 seats. GB Pant Hospital has been equipped with a ‘State-of-the-Art’- 128-slice multi-spiral CT scanner.
Under the ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’, the Islands achieved the highest per capita farmer participation in India which is 32 times the national average. Under ‘PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi’, Rs. 3.31 crore has been disbursed to 13,296 beneficiaries, bringing the total to Rs. 56.92 crore. With a view to strengthen fisheries sector, a ‘Wholesale-cum-Retail Fish Market’ at Bhatubasti and a ₹209 crore ‘Modern Fishing Harbour’ at Mayabunder will be developed.
Under Shipping Sector, the Lt. Governor stated that proposals are progressing for a ‘Deep-Water Port at Atlanta Bay’, ‘Ship-to-Ship Transhipment’ at ‘Port Meadows’, and a ship construction/repair hub. IIT Chennai has completed the pre-feasibility report for the ‘Deep-Water Port’. ‘Dry Dock-II Extension’ at ‘Marine Dockyard’ and the ‘Swaraj Dweep Sea Port Terminal’ will be completed by October 2025. Under ‘Sagarmala’ project, the environment clearance for strengthening ‘Long Island Jetty’ has been received on March 2025 and the project is expected to be completed by March 2027.
The Police Administration earned five President’s Medals. Island athletes secured 10 medals in the 38th National Games, two at Khelo India Para Games 2025, one at Khelo India Youth Games, and one at Khelo India Beach Games. For their performance, the A&N Administration has given cash awards worth Rs. 50 lakhs to medal winners, the Lt. Governor said.
Concluding his address, the Lt. Governor extended his heartiest congratulations and best wishes to the marching contingents, school children for participating in the parade. He congratulated all the awardees and hoped that their commitment towards social service will become stronger and stronger. He expressed his gratitude to the Andaman and Nicobar Command under the guidance of CINCAN, for providing assistance and cooperation to the Civil Administration whenever the need arose. The Lt. Governor also appreciated the work being done by the A&N Administration under the leadership of Chief Secretary, DGP and PCCF. He also expressed heartfelt gratitude to the elected representatives of various parties, other sectors of the society, who have given their valuable support to the Administration.
Lt. Governor reaffirmed his commitment and that of the Administration to the Islands’ modern development, ensuring they play a vital role in realizing the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’. Earlier, the Lt. Governor presented President’s Police Medals and Lt. Governor’s Commendation Certificates to the recipients for their outstanding contribution in various fields.